Saturday, July 22, 2017
Laser 4.7 - Youth World Championship 2017 - Nieuwpoort BEL - Day 3, new Girls' leader, no change in Boys
After the race cancellation of Thursday because of the stormy wind, the Laser 4.7 Worlds went on yesterday in a moderate but unconstant breeze, as well as again a strong tide current. Julia Büsselberg GER has taken the lead in the Girls' fleet at equal points with Giorgia Cingolani ITA on rank 2 and leader of the U16 rankings. The previous leader Anna Moncada ESP dropped on rank 3.
No change in the Boys' ranking on top as the joint three leaders were again the race winners in their groups. Cesare Barabino ITA breaks the tie in his favor with the better discard result and is also first in the U16 rankings. Sofiane Karim FRA and Yilkan Timursah TUR at equal points with the leader follow on the ranks 2 and 3. Two races are on the program to conclude the Qualification Series.
The daily news with links to the ranking lists.
Racing was cancelled on the opening day of the 4th Act of the Extreme Sailing Series in Barcelona due to too big waves. Yesterday, the first six heats were held and with three bullets, 'Alinghi' with Arnaud Psarofaghis SUI are the first interim's leaders ahead of Chris Steele NZL (NZ Extreme Sailing Team) 7 points back and Phil Robertson NZL ('Oman Air') closely behind. 
The wind was very light on the last day of the 2017 Contender World Championship in Denmark and only one of the two planned races could be held without changes on the podium. Jason Beebe AUS earned his first World Champion's title 3 points ahead of the defending champion Mark Bulka AUS. Jesper Nielsen DEN grasped Bronze. Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI remained on rank 66 and was once more the best woman.
The outstanding Tom Otte NED was again the best of the day yesterday and with his huge points' advantage, he is the premature World Champion before he final races today. The second-ranked Thorsten Schutt GER is now already 43 points back. The ranks 2 to 4 however are separated by 7 points only. Lucas Lier DEN remains on the 3rd place.
As expected considering the points' gaps, the final ranking at the F16 catamaran European Championship in Morges / Lake Geneva remained unchanged on top. Emanuel Le Chapelier/Eric Le Bouëdec FRA are the new European Champions ahead of Thomas Proust/Eric Proust FRA and Alec Bagué/Stijn Van Daele BEL.
Only one race could be sailed at the Melges 32 European Championship in Croaia in a very light breeze. After three races, the interim's leader is Edoardo Lupi ITA (tactics Lorenzo Bressani ITA) 4 points ahead of Richard Goransson SWE (Vasco Vascotto ITA) and Andrea Lacorte ISA (Gabriele Benussi ITA). 16 teams from 7 nations participate. 
The Tornado European Championship 2017 began yesterday on Lake Como with 4 races sailed in a light and unconstant breeze. Mavros/Tagaropoulos GRE and Steiner/Steiner SUI are the first leaders at equal points. Gebhart/Wachsmann GER follow 10 points behind on rank 3. 21 starters from 8 nations. Trecul/Ferrand FRA suive au 14è place.
Not enough wind on the final day of the 2017 Optimist World Championship in Pattaya THA and Marco Gradoni ITA is the new World Champion. Muhammad Fauzi Bin Kaman Shah MAS (Malaysia) earned Silver after his Bronze Medal of last year. Bronze went to Costa Rica with Mic Sig Kos Mohr CRC. Stephen Baker USA is on the excellent 4th place. The best girl was Maria Perello ESP, age 12 only, on rank 23, Palika Poonpat THA 35th took Silver and Charlotte Leigh USA 42nd Bronze. 281 Optimists from 62 nations participated. 
A passing rain front with winds above 30 kn inhibited racing yesterday at the Laser 4.7 World Championship in Belgium, and the rankings after the two races of the opening day remains unchanged. 
The 2017 Contender World Championship in Sonderborg SWE continued yesterday with 3 races sailed in a fresh wind. Before the last races today, it has been decided that the title will go to Australia, either to Jason Beebe AUS or Mark Bulka AUS 2 points behind. The 3rd Jesper Nielsen DEN is 44 points back. Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI, best woman and best Swiss, had her best day and moved up on rank 66 among the 105 participants. 
After the road transfer from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, a lay day in Roses ESP was on the program yesterday. Today, the crucial phase of the Tour de France with another four Acts (Roses ESP, Grau du Roi Port Camargue, Marseille and Nizza) will begin with the Coastal Race at the Spanish venue. The 
Lay day in the Netherlands at the Yngling World Championship yesterday. Today and tomorrow, the crucial races will be held, but the outcome is already quite clear, as the leading Tom Otte NED and his team have a 31 points' advantage on the second-ranked Thomas Schutt GER. Lucas Lier DEN follows on rank 3. 
The Techno293+ World Championship in Quiberon FRA was concluded yesterday, and for the first time, the Youth boat was equipped with the larger rig and sail as to be used in the 2018 Youth Olympics. The 2017 Worlds were the first nations qualification event for the Youth Games with the first six nations by gender earning a nations' slot. 
11 races have been sailed so far at the F16 European Championship in Morges and the Medal winners are clear before the last races today. Emanuel Le Chapelier/Eric Le Bouëdec FRA lead 13 points in front of Thoms Proust/Eric Proust FRA and 16 points ahead of Alec Bagué/Stijn Van Dale BEL. Good/Wirtz BEL on the 4th place are already 20 points behind the Bronze Medal. 
Team New Zealand has informed on the time schedule for the 36th America's Cup Challenge. In the coming September, the Protocol in preparation together with the Challenger of Record 'Luna Rossa' will be published. The Challenger Series will begin in Autumn 2021 in Auckland NZL. The most important change will be, that a "constructed in country" requirement for competing yachts and a nationality requirement for competing crew members will be included. 
The Optimist World Championship in Pattaya THA continued yesterday with three races sailed in a moderate 8 to 10 kn breeze. 
Yesterday, the Tour de France fleet was relocated on the road from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea, where Act 6 will begin tomorrow in Roses ESP. The event website contains a first summary of the organisers on the much animated 
Good conditions prevailed on the first day of the Laser 4.7 World Championship in Niewpoort, and both fleets completed two races each. 
The 105 Contenders sailed another race yesterday in Denmark and a leader change happened. Finishing on rank 2, Jason Beebe AUS has taken the overall lead 2 points ahead of Mark Bulka AUS and Jesper Nielsen DEN at equal points. The best of the 7 women sailing (and best Swiss), Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI, is now on the 82nd place.
Another four races were held on the third day of the Yngling Worlds in the Netherlands. 
The Techno 293 Worlds continued yesterday with three races per fleet in freshening winds of up to 20 kn.
The 281 participants of the Optimist Worlds in Thailand waited in vain for the breeze yesterday. After a thunderstorm at noon, the wind disappeared and racing had to be cancelled. Here the 
The best 16 nation teams sailed yesterday the Final of the Team Race Championship. In a thight last duel, the USA defeated China, while Malaysia earned the Bronze-Medal. The 
The 2017 Contender World Championship began in Sonderborg yesterday with two races. Mark Bulka AUS is the first leader ahead of Jason Beebe AUS and Jesper Nielsen DEN. Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI, best Swiss and best-ranked woman, follows on the 66 place among 105 participants from 8 nations.
The first round of the Optimist Team Race Championship was on the program yesterday, the traditional event after the individual Championship's halftime. Singapore, France, Sweden, Malaysia, Germany, China, Korea, Ireland from 
A rain front with wind speeds of up to 40 kn inhibited racing on the final day of the inaugural M32 catamaran World Championship in Marstrand SWE. Phil Robertson NZL and his team were the clear winner ahead of Jonas Warrer DEN and Chris Steele NZL. 15 teams racing.
The Farr40 World Championship was concluded on Sardinia yesterday with four races sailed in a perfect 16-20 kn breeze. Nothing changed on the podium: Alex Roepers USA (tactics Terry Hutchinson USA) defended his title successfully ahead of Alberto Rossi ITA (Vasco Vascotto ITA) who reduced the backlog on 3 points during the final races. Helmut Jahn USA and his team followed on rank 3. 
The 470 World Championship
The qualifications for the Gold-, Silver-, Bronze- and Emarald Fleets ended yesterday with another two races. 
No changes on the podium occurred after the two last races of the Melges 20 European Championship. Igor Rytov RUS and his team defended the lead just one point ahead of Alexander Novoselov RUS and Alessandro Rombelli ITA, earning Silver and Bronze. 
The PWA Wave Worldcup event on Gran Canaria was concluded yesterday in a fresh up to 40 kn breeze with the Double Elimination Final. On their home waters, the never-ending duel between the Moreno twins continued, and it was again Daida who had the upperhand on Iballa. Lisa Erpstein GER followed on 3rd, her first Worldcup podium. In the men's category, Philipp Köster GER defeated the reigning Worldchampion Victor Fernandez ESP. 
With the ranks 1 and 2 in the last races of the F18 World Championship in Denmark, Mischa Heemskerk/Stephan Dekker NED confirmed their superiority winning with a 19 points' advantage of Demesmaeker/Tas BEL on 2nd. Van Dijk/De Ward NED won one of the races and moved up on the 3rd place overall. Stroebel/Hopps USA are on rank 52, Bingham/Stewart USA on rank 56 among the 124 teams from 17 nations.
The M32 catamaran World Championship 2017 continued in Marstrand SWE yesterday in a 10-12 kn wind with 5 races. Phil Robertson NZL and his team extended their lead in the overall ranking to 8 points. Jonas Warrer DEN and Chris Steele NZL defended their 2nd and 3rd place. 
Four races were held yesterday in a moderate 8 to 12 k breeze at the Farr-40 World Championship on Sardinia ITA. 'Plenty' of Alex Roepers USA with Terry Hutchinson USA as tactician extended their overall lead with the day ranks 1/2/1/2 and their advantage on the famous architect Helmut Jahn USA (tactics Morgan Reeser USA) is 12 points before the last races today. 
12-14 kn, the freshest breeze so far at the 470 Worlds in Thessaloniki GRE, was blowing during the last three qualification races for the Medal Races of today. 
A fresh 16 to 18 kn breeze prevailed on day two of the Optimist World Championship 2017 in Pattaya THA, and at the end of the day, the kids rushed downwind ashore in a thunderstorm. The two races of the day changed the ranking lists substantially. 
No change on top of the rankings in the two last races of the J/80 Worlds. The defending champion Rayco Tabares ESP finished twice as second and consolidated his first position ahead of Eric Brezellec FRA 18 points behind. Thanks to two race wins, Simon Moriceau FRA and his team earned the Bronze Medal. 47 teams from 8 nations participated.
Suboptimal conditions prevailed yesterday on Gran Canaria, but at least, a short weather window allowed to continue with the Double Elimination. Today, final day of the event, Daida Moreno ESP, Iballa Moreno ESP, Lina Erpenstein GER and Justyna Sniady POL will fight for the women's victory. In the men's, Philip Köster GER, Victor Fernandez ESP, Thomas Traversa FRA, Ricardo Campello VEN and Marcilio Browne BRA meet in today's final.
Mischa Heemskerk/Stephan Dekker NED realised three bullets yesterday and jumped on top of the overall rankings. But their advantage on the second-ranked Demesmaeker/Tas BEL is only 2 points, and even the two-times Olympic medalist Mitch Booth ESP with his son Ruben Booth ESP 12 points back has theoretical chances for the title. Stroebel/Hopps USA are down on 48th, Bingham/Stewart USA 56th.
After the cancelled races on Thursday, opening day of the Farr 40 World Championship on Sardinia ITA, race one was started yesterday in the late afternoon in a still fresh up to 25 kn wind, causing minor equipment failures and weird manoeuvres of some of the owner-steered boats. At the end of the race, the defending champion Alex Roepers USA with Terry Hutchinson USA as tactician was first ahead of Alberto Rossi/Vasco Vascotto ITA on rank 2.
Yesterday, the seabreeze filled in only late and very light at the 470 World Championship in Greece, allowing to sail just one race.
Two races were sailed yesterday on day one of the 2017 Optimist World Championship in Pattaya THA. The record-size 281 boats' fleet from 61 nations is split in four Groups. 
Three races were completed on day two of the Melges 20 European Championship at the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. Position changes on top with Igor Rytov RUS as first ahead of Alessandro Rombelli ITA (with Francesco Bruni ITA) at equal points. The podium is completed by Kalomeni Orel MON (with Sebastien Col)
Three more races were completed yesterday on the Solent at the J/80 World Championship in Cowes GBR.
Yesterday, racing continued at the F18-Worlds with the first Final races of the Gold- and Silverfleets. Three races were held in a moderate wind.
After the World Match Race Tour Marstrand event, the M32 catamarans remained at the same venue for their World Championship. With 15 cats on the starting line, this is the largest M32 fleet sailing together so far. After three races, Chris Steele NZL and Pieter-Jan Postma NED share the lead ahead of Jonas Warrer DEN on rank 3. 
The seabreeze on Gran Canaria filled again in only very late in the day, and the Wave professionals had another unplanned day ashore. However, the youth wave athletes - age groups 14 to 18 years, and U14 - continued their competition. 
Light winds between 6 and 8 kn prevailed yesterday in Thessaloniki during the first two Final races s sailed in Gold- and Silverfleets.
The points' gaps between the leading three teams were such, that no position changes occurred in the last races of the Europe Class World Chapionship in Blanes/Costa Brava ESP. 
Only moderate winds prevailed yesterday on Gran Canaria, not enough to continue the Wave contest for the PWA professionals. However, a competition for development wave athletes has been on the program for the first time.
Three races were completed again on day two of the F18 Worlds in Denmark. Finishing 1/3/3, the new leaders are Philip Hendrickx/Filip Olyslager BEL ahead of Helge and Christian Sach GER new on 2nd and Mitch and Ruben Booth ESP on 3rd. Stroebel/Hobbs USA are 35th, Bingham/Stewat USA 44th among the 124 participants.
Nine races have been held at the J/80-Worlds in Cowes up to now, and the defending Champion Rayco Tabares ESP and his team have a 30 points' advantage on the Olympic medalist Luke Patience GBR. Eric Breizellet FRA is on rank 3. 48 teams from 9 nations participate.
Light winds prevailed on the first day of the Melges-20 European Championship in Croatia. Alexander Novoselov RUS and his team confirmed his role as favorite winning the first race. Orel Kalomeni MON (tactics Sébastien Col FRA) follows on rank 2, Igor Rytov RUS is 3rd. 
The Lake Garda Foiling Week was terminated in Malcesine on last Tuesday. In addition to speeches, discussions and trials on new prototypes, races were on the program as well. 
The Qualification Series were concluded yesterday with two races. The best 36 men's teams qualify for the Goldfleet, in the women's, the cut is at position 30. 
The 49th Transpac Race will be remembered as the year of the records as both the outright multihull and monohull times for the 2225 nm course from Los Angles to Honolulu have been officially eclipsed.
The Europe Class World Championship in Blanes ESP at the Costa Brava will be concluded today, but the positions on top seem to be firm and not to many changes might happen in the last race.
Top conditions on Gran Canaria yesterday on the third day of the PWA Wave Worldcup mit winds above 30 kn, allowing to start to the Double-Elimination. The best drivers did not yet enter this part of the competition. Among the winners of the day was Moritz Mauch GER, loosing none of his duels.
The F18 catamaran World Championship 2017 began in Denmark yesterday with three races. The 128 boats' fleet is split in two groups. The first leaders are Daniel and Nicolaj Bjornholt DEN, 2 points ahead of Mitch Booth/Ruben Booth ESP and also on rank 3 is a successful Tornado team with Paschalidis/Trigonis GRE. 
The 470 World Championship in Thesssalonik GRE began yesterday in hot temperatures and an 8-10 kn seabreeze with three races.
Two races per fleet were sailed again on the third day of the Europe Class World Championship without position changes in the top ranks.
40 kn and and big waves did set a perfect stage for the first day of the PWA Wave Worldcup on Gran Canaria. In the women's, the Moreno twins ESP duelled as expected for rank 1, and it was Daida who had the upper hand on Iballa. The duel for rank 3 ended in favor of Lina Erpenstein GER who defeated Sara-Quita Offringa NED (Aruba) realising her best result of her career ever. In the men's Philipp Köster GER defeated Victor Fernandez ESP in the Final. 
Leader changes on the second day of the RS:One European Championship in both fleets. Maelle Guibault FRA replaced Farrah Hall USA on top of the women's, Thomas Goyard FRA has taken the lead in the men's ahead of Sebastian Kornum DEN. 
