Sibello brothers into the fray

Gold fleet decided at 49er Europeans with Peckholt brothers maintaining their lead on a lighter day

Qualification came to a close on Wednesday with the crews having to adapt their techniques to light air sailing. The wind was visibly less and although it built up throughout the day the maximum was only ever 8-9 knots. The westerly wind then dropped further throughout the course of the racing finishing the final qualification in only 5 knots of wind.

Some of the crews, with a lighter combined weight, thrived in this weather, one of which was the Alonso brothers (ESP), commenting of the race Alonso said: "We had a bad day yesterday so needed to perform today, this wind is good for us and good starts helped us to have a very good day."

In winds as light it was essential that the sailors got a good start and were able to sail into clear air from the very beginning. This was the key for all the successful sailors. The Peckolt brothers although using their discard on the final race, enjoyed another good day of racing, commenting on the starts Hannes said: "Today was interesting; those who made good starts and made it to a clear lane got to go all the way, those sailors were fine, On the other hand though, for example, our last start we messed it up and came in the 20's."

For all the crews, with the qualification under their belt the regatta really starts on Thursday. The beginning of the gold medal fleet races has come at a perfect time for one of the home crews, the Sibello brothers (ITA). With home support from the Italian's spectating on the water, the Sibello brothers have gradually improved throughout the week, peaking just before the start of the medal races. With two first places today, the Sibello brothers have propelled themselves to third in the leader board.

"We had some really good starts today," commented Sibello, "we were sixth going into the racing this morning. The real racing begins tomorrow though, we have had a very good qualifying improving everyday; we can sail in any wind conditions so are going into tomorrow and the Gold Fleet very confident"

With light winds forecasted again for Thursday, hopefully the Race Officers will be able to keep up to date with the race schedule.

			R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts
1	PECKOLT JAN PETER PECKOLT HANNES	GER 11	1	3	3	2	2	5	1	2	25	19
2	DYEN EMMANUEL ROCHERIUEX JANN	FRA 16	1	8	10	1	14	1	12	1	2	36
3	SIBELLO PIETRO SIBELLO GIANFRANCO	ITA 4	12	1	9	5	3	7	1	1	10	37
4	MARTINEZ DE LIZARDUY IKER FERNANDEZ XABIER	ESP 10	15	2	1	4	5	2	11	7	6	38
5	MARCUS BAUR HANNES BAUMANN	GER 26	3	1	22	10	1	17	7	3	4	46
6	WADLOW TIM RAST CHRISTOPHER	USA 13	16	4	2	9	18	5	6	3	6	51
7	CZAJKWSKI MARCIN KIERKOWSKI KRZYSZTOF	POL 17	3	4	4	2	12	17	21	4	8	54
8	LA GRAVIERE MORGAN CHRISTIDIS STEPHANE	FRA 7	5	3	3	1	8	11	22	6	RAF	59
9	LIMA JORGE AUDRADE FRANCISCO	POR 18	17	11	2	15	10	10	3	5	3	59
10	KRUGER PETR DENGSO ANDER DENNIS	DEN 15	4	13	6	11	2	1	8	16	16	61
11	ALONSO FEDERICO ALONSO ARTURO	ESP 6	2	13	1	17	17	19	9	2	2	63
12	CAMBELL-JAMES PAUL ASQUITH MARK	GBR 21	6	15	5	3	6	BFD	6	12	11	64
13	JONAS WARRER MARTIN KIRKETERP	DEN 8	2	10	4	13	6	7	16	13	10	65
14	ALEXANDRE MONTEAU DAMIEN GUILLOU	FRA 992	6	2	DNF	9	4	4	23	8	12	68
15	RODION LUKA GEORGII LEONCHUK	UKR 9	4	7	5	7	12	12	24	15	7	69
16	BRIESENICK PUDENZ L. MASSMANN MORTEN	GER 45	12	9	11	13	9	BFD	2	4	17	77
17	PINK JOHN WHEELER SIMON	GBR 28	11	14	18	14	8	2	2	11	16	78
18	LINDBERG JOANAS TORLEN KALLE	SWE 42	5	21	7	12	5	13	5	14	25	82
19	MCGOVERN RUSSELL MCGOVERN MATT	IRL 1032	OCS	12	21	3	3	4	10	17	15	85
20	GUNDERSEN CHRISTOPHER BOVIM FRODE	NOR 20	18	19	12	6	11	8	13	7	11	86
21	ANGILELLA GIUSEPPE ZUCCHETTI PIETRO	ITA 30	8	17	14	8	20	3	17	21	1	88
22	HANSEN PETER HANSEN SOREN	DEN 33	14	23	8	BFD	4	3	3	16	20	91
23	SIEBER CRHISTOPH KRUSE CKEMENS	AUT 38	7	16	9	5	20	8	25	14	13	92
24	MARTIN IAN MCGRANE BEN	GBR 43	16	12	13	8	17	9	20	22	1	96
25	ISHIBASHI AKIRA MAKINO YUKIO	JPN 971	18	31	6	10	7	15	BFD	5	5	97