Semaine Olympique Française at Hyeres - Day 5
by Corinne Rolland-McKenzie 28 Apr 2011 22:32 BST
22-29 April 2011
Seven Golds on the penultimate day!
The last day of finals in the fourth ISAF Sailing World Cup event in Hyères has concluded on Thursday with seven early winners in the Olympic and Paralympic classes.
Tara Pacheco and Berta Betanzos (ESP) have been in control in the 470 women division since day one and have kept increasing their lead to an amazing 32 points lead in a talented field.
“It is the first time we win an event with such a big lead before the medal race. We have been able to sail well in the breeze, our favoured conditions but also in the lights where we are trying hard. Tomorrow we will sail our race as usual and will try not to disturb the others who are playing for the other medals”.
Pacheco and Betanzos have had a dream start in their Olympic selections which will continue in Weymouth for Sail for Gold and at the ISAF Worlds. The next four teams will fight for Silver and Bronze during the medal race on Friday.
In the 470 men, the French teams have been playing catch up since Palma, sharing top placings. This time it is Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garos who come on top. They have created the gap today with enough points to win the event from team mates and rivals Nicolas Charbonnier and Jeremie Mion (FRA). Silver and Bronze will be the objective of teams placed from second to 6th.
“We sail together for eleven years and it is the first time we win before the medal race. We came here to win and we are very happy especially when this event is our first Olympic selection event.” declared Pierre Leboucher.
With six victories taken in all kind of conditions, Ben Ainslie (GBR) has proven once again he is the master of the Finns! The medal race will be a round of honour for the multiple medallist who is adding a third Sailing World Cup title this year after claiming Sail Melbourne and the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma last month. Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) and Beijing Silver medallist Zach Railey (USA) will start the Medal race in second and third position. Filippo Baldassari (ITA) will sail tomorrow his first medal race. The 20 years old has achieved in Hyères, second Olympic selection event, his best result ever in the Finn.
Ben Ainslie's competitor from his early days in the Laser, Robert Scheidt (BRA) is leaving his print in the Star class, after leading the SOF-TPM from day one with crew Bruno Prada. Like his old time Laser rival, Scheidt and Prada have already won the event in Hyères. Second place go to Xavier Rohart and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot and third to Diego Negri and Enrico Voltolini (ITA) before the medal race.
The Paralympic classes didn't bring much surprise over the week and early leaders have kept the control of the fleet. Damien Seguin wins the SOF for the fourth time while it is the first victory for Bruno Jourdren, Eric Flageul and Nicolas Vimont Vicary are winning the event for the first time:
« We had a good week. We came here to try new equipment because we had problems with our new boat. Of course it is easier to be smarter and relaxed with good speed. This is the first time we win the SOF or any regatta in the Sonar. We are ahead with our objective to be ready for the Worlds at the end of the year.”
In the Skud, Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR) have won eight out of nine races.
Pietro and Gianfranco Sibello (ITA) have sailed regularly this week in the 49er in all conditions with a 12 as worse result.
“We had the same type of racing in Palma, and didn't go higher than 12th as well in any race. We are happy with our results which prove that our training in Spain with the French teams has paid off. We have started conservatively in the qualification stages as we wanted to go in the final stage without a bad race. We have good starts and speed and are happy with how we are going. Tomorrow we will follow the French. In any case we will be happy because we know we have reached the level we want. ”
The Italians are going into the medal race with a big advance, one point short of a early win over training partners Julien D'Ortoli and Noe Delpech (FRA). The podium is opened to the top six before the medal race.
Ten countries will be represented in the Laser Medal Race tomorrow. 2010 Sailing World Cup winner Javier Hernandez (ESP) will lead into the medal race with Tom Slingsby (AUS) in second on equal points with Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) in third. “I have sailed a perfect day from start to finish without any doubt. We are tight in points now so tomorrow everything is possible.” admits Stipanovic.
The Australian who is renowned for his talent in the breeze has improved in the light with good results scored this week. “I have been working hard in the light and I have improved a lot. The important factor is consistency. The fleet is very good and today I have tried to close the gap between Javier and me.”
Palma winner, Sara Winther (NZL) is back in the lead after winning the last race of the event. She is now seven points from Sarah Steyaert (FRA). Dongshuang Zhang (CHN) has climbed to third overall after top seven places and two victories in the finals.
It will be a dual for Gold in the women RS:X between World champion Blanca Manchon (ESP) and Charline Picon (FRA), with Silver the consolation prize! The Bronze will be opened to the next four on the rankings with SOF 2009 winner Peina Chen (CHN) the best placed in third overall.
In the RS:X men division, Piotr Myszka (POL), second in Hyères last year has steadily climbed to first place since the start of the finals. The event title will be up for grab by the top five, including Beijing medallists, Shahar Zubari (ISR), Julien Bontemps (FRA) and Tom Ashley (NZL) as well as vice World champion Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL) in fifth place.
Sally Barkow (USA) and Lucy MacGregor (GBR) have selected today for the Match-racing finals.
Team Barkow defeated team Groeneveld 3-0 and Mcgregor (GBR) defeated team Leroy in the 3-1
in the semi-finals.
“We train a lot together so we have the same style and we know eachothers well so it will be a tight match. We have met already this year in Palma and we won in five matches so it will be hard.” expalins Sally Barkow.
All races start tomorrow from 10am.
Day 5 Video:
Check the action on the event website.