Laser Standard Men's World Championship at Vallarta, Mexico - Day 5
by Eric Faust 17 May 2016 06:27 BST
12-18 May 2016
Thompson tops the leader board while Kontides has flawless day
Challenging conditions today at the Laser Standard Men's World Championship as the wind went from 9 knots at the start of the day's first race, to 20 knots during the second. Only two of the top-ten sailors avoided adding a discard race to their score line today as the Finals Series got underway in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.
Nick Thompson of Great Britain remains on top of the leader board, but the day belonged to the 2012 Olympic silver medalist Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus who mastered the widest range of conditions seen so far in this championship. Starting near the pin in today's first race in 9 knots of wind, Kontides quickly got clear and was able to cross the fleet early and pick his way up the beat to round fifth.
A very happy Kontides said, "As the wind started to increase it went right and I was able to get through to first place on the second windward leg. In the second race I went middle right and hiked hard as the wind increased to over 18 knots. I rounded the first mark with Philipp Buhl and we had a great race in the full planing conditions. I passed Philipp near the end of the reach, extended a little downwind then I had to work hard to keep him behind on the second upwind leg."
Championship leader, Nick Thompson, also chose the pin in the first race, a tactic that nearly backfired as he struggled to keep clear of the pin boat anchor line. That small delay meant that he did not have the same advantage as Kontides and had to hold the left side longer. But as soon as Thompson was clear to tack he could sail his own race up the middle.
Thompson's 7th in that race was a championship saver for him as he tried the pin again for the second race but could not tack across the fleet this time. Thompson rounded the first mark in the twenties and in the stronger wind could only recover to 18th by the finish.
Thompson keeps his overall lead since his two nearest rivals, Jean-Baptiste Bernard of France and Robert Scheidt of Brazil, each had a bad ninth race, scoring a 22nd and 25th respectively. Unlike Thompson they each posted a single figure 6th and 5th to keep themselves in reach of the lead.
With four scheduled races to go, at this point it's still anyone's regatta to win. Racing continues tomorrow with the forecast calling for another spectacular day in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.
Results after Day 5: (top ten, 10 races, 2 discards)
1. Nick Thompson GBR 23pts
2. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA 27pts
3. Robert Scheidt BRA 38pts
4. Matthew Wearn AUS 41pts
5. Pavlos Kontides CYP 46pts
6. Tom Burton 46pts
7. Philipp Buhl GER 48pts
8. Tonci Stipanovic CRO 37pts
9. Kristian Ruth NOR 58pts
10. Wannes van Laer BEL 58pts