470 Junior Worlds at Takapuna Boating Club, New Zealand - Day 3
By Christine Hansen on 30 Jan26 January - 3 February 2012
Sivitz and Farneti consolidate their lead
Italian sailing duo Simon Sivitz and Jas Farneti continue to dominate at the 2012 470 Junior Worlds, hosted by Takapuna Boating Club in Auckland, New Zealand. Sailed on the Waitemata waters between the shore and Rangitoto Island, the harbour offered up a set of summer conditions. The day began a little overcast, the cool south westerly which has dominated race days so far died out, so the race committee delayed racing until one pm when the expected north easterly sea breeze was to have filled in.
Sailors launched their boats in readiness for racing but proceedings were further delayed when the postponement flag was re-hoisted during the starting sequence as the wind changed direction markedly. A light six knot breeze finally settled and the waters were very flat and with lots of sunshine.
Men/Mixed
Race five got under way at two pm but a general recall (too many boats over the start line) caused the race committee to bring out the black flag and two boats including Netherlands Dirk Bennen and Rogier Weijers who had been in third place at the end of racing yesterday, had to withdraw from the race for being over the line within one minute of the start. Sivitz/Farneti have been impressive in the moderate to heavy conditions, having the speed to get the best shifts and handling their boat well, and now they showed us that they are equally impressive in the light breeze, leading throughout the race and winning with a comfortable margin. In race six they placed first once again and are now a clear 15 points ahead of their next opponents.
During race five Sacha Pelisson and Nicholas Rossi of France challenged the Italians at times and made inroads into their lead on the final downwind leg by cutting in across the course, they looked very comfortable in the conditions and placed second in this race, with Magnus Masilge and Moritz Klingenberger of Germany not far behind. Overnight in second place were New Zealand's top crew, James Turner and Finn Drummond, an 18th placing in the fifth race became their drop, but they made a comeback in race six with a fourth and retain their second position. Australia's Matthew and Robert Crawford have worked their way up the leader board into third, with a 10th and third placing today.
Women
During race six the breeze gradually built and became 10 - 15 knots with the waves quickly building and most sailors found themselves in the wrong settings after the earlier lighter race, by the time we reached the beach it was even stronger reported Annika Bochman. Looking at the separated women's results, Afrodite Kyranakou and Jeske Kisters maintained their lead with second and first placings today - results which were also in the top ten of the mixed fleet. A good day for the British crew Anna Burnet and Flora Stewart, a first and second has seen them swap positions with German crew Annika Bochman and Elisabeth Panuschka just one point behind.
Another two races are programmed for tomorrow and we will have to wait to see which set of conditions there will be on the harbour tomorrow.
More information and full results on the event website.
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