Nacra 17, 49er and 49erFX Worlds at Clearwater, Florida - Day 4
by Katy Nastro & Andy Rice 13 Feb 2016 06:55 GMT
9-14 February 2016
New Zealand sailing fans have reason to be doubly happy at the end of day four of the 49er and 49erFX World Championships, with Kiwi teams topping the table in both men's and women's divisions.
The 2013 49erFX World Champions, Alex Maloney and Molly Meech, look to have rediscovered their world-beating form in recent weeks, winning the warm-up regatta in Miami earlier in the month and now taking the lead after a strong performance in moderate south-westerly breezes off Clearwater Beach.
Scores of 3,1,10 have put the New Zealanders 3 points ahead of previous series leaders, Victoria Jurczok and Anika Lorenz of Germany. Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze also sailed a great day, notching up 1,8,1 to sit in 3rd overall. But the best day went to the Spanish team of Tamara Echegoyen and Berta Betanzos who won all three of their heats in the blue division of qualifying, rocketing the London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Echegoyen up to 4th overall.
Meanwhile in the men's 49er fleet, no surprises to report that Pete Burling and Blair Tuke continue to dominate the racing, although the triple World Champions did ruin their unbroken run of bullets with a slightly less perfect scoreline of 3,1,2,11 from today's four qualifying heats. Discarding the final race 11th, the unstoppable Kiwis have stretched their lead to 28 points over arch rivals, Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen who sit in 2nd overall.
The live TV coverage showed that even Burling and Tuke occasionally make tactical mistakes, and they were lucky that the Irish team of Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern waved them on in a tight port-starboard situation. "Yeah, maybe," smiled Tuke, "but we let them off the hook on a port-starboard in the last race at the top mark. And they tacked on our face, so I reckon they owe us one."
McGovern didn't deny it. "We train with the Kiwi boys quite a bit, so we like to show them up a bit when we get the chance," he laughed. It was a good day for the Irish too, winning a race and coming 4th in the next, moving them up to 9th overall.
Outteridge and Jensen were racing on the opposite side of the qualifying draw, and just like the TV course that Burling was competing on, the key to success was all about getting a great start and being able to hit the left-hand side of the track, sometimes sailing within metres of the breaking surf near to the spectators and sun worshippers enjoying the white sand and blue skies that lit up Clearwater Beach today. "The start was critical, and hoping you didn't take any bad waves as you came out of the start, or that you had enough space to leeward to be able to put the bow down and accelerate," said Jensen. Tomorrow the reigning Olympic Champions get their chance to line up against the reigning World Champions for first time this week, as Gold Fleet finals get underway.
For many, this is a critical moment in their Olympic selection trials, and for the Spanish in particular. The Alonso brothers finished 3rd at the 2015 World Championships in Argentina, setting their rivals a tough target. But scores of 4,2,3,9 lift the young crew of Diego Botín and Iago López Marra to 3rd overall, putting them in a great position to challenge the experienced Alonsos for selection. "We are very happy with today," said López Marra. "The target is to finish inside the top 8 and to beat the points score of the Alonsos. The interesting thing about this venue is that every day is different, and it is producing a really good test of all-round sailing ability."
While the Alonso brothers have a struggle for selection, another veteran team from Austria, Niko delle Karth and Niko Resch, sit in 4th overall and are looking very likely to be sailing at their fourth successive Olympic Games in Rio this summer. They narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at London 2012, which is part of the motivation for still sailing in 2016. "But also we just love what we do," said delle Karth. "We have sailed together for a long time and we really look forward to racing together again at Rio."
Other big performances came from the young Italian teams and from David Gilmour and Lewis Brake who started the day in 49th overall and with slim hopes of making the top 25 cut for Gold Fleet. But the young Aussies put the hammer down and with scores of 1,4,4,13 they have surged up to 17th overall and live to fight another day, against the world's best.
With so much riding on this week and the need to make it into Gold fleet, there were a flurry of last-minute protests as teams fought by any means necessary to get their way into the top 25. One of the best FX teams, Ida Nielsen and Marie Olsen, were fighting to stay in contention after picking up two OCS disqualifications yesterday for breaking the start gun too soon. Scores of 3,18,3 have scraped the Danes into 22nd overall, enough for the bottom end of Gold Fleet. But they still have a mountain to climb if they're to challenge the other Danish crews in 8th and 11th overall, as they enter the final two days of their selection trials.
To find out if Nielsen and Olsen can fight their way back up the rankings, and for all the other dramas and battles in play at the 49er Worlds, tune into tomorrow's live TV coverage starting at 12pm local time (Eastern Standard Time).
Nacra 17
Day four of the Nacra 17 World Championship went off without a hitch. The less than stellar wintery weather that Clearwater has produced has now subsided, and finally the sailors were able to sail in nearly perfect conditions out on the Gulf of Mexico.
The fleet was sent out just before noon in a varying 8-12knot breeze, and was back to the beach by 4:30pm. The fast and furious French team of Billy Besson and Marie Riou had a consistent performance throughout the four races that were held. Both of them felt satisfied, and pleasantly happy with the point spread they are currently sitting in. As it stands the French pair sit in first by a staggering 53 points [pending other changes in scores from other teams sitting behind them. The long day in the Floridian sun didn't seem to phase the threetime Nacra 17 World Champion, Billy Besson who came out to win the first race of the day. Marie notes, "We are really happy with our performance thus far, especially after three long days." Their worst performance of the day was an 11th in the second race in which they had a situation with the Swiss team costing them quite a few places after rectifying their mistake. "We lost a lot of places after the first upwind in that race, but we came back and back, ending eleventh, so to us it wasn't really a bad race." The pair is confident they will be able to tackle any other type of condition Clearwater will throw at them over the course of the final two days.
The closest boat currently chasing after the French team is the venerable Italian team Vittorio Bisssaro and Silvia Sicouri. The former World Cup champions haven't had the most impressive scores on the board, but they have kept a consistency needed to take control of second place. Interestingly though, Vittorio and Silvia found they may have had a collision with an unidentified object while out on the race course. No marker or mammal was seen by either of the sailors, but they went from about 20 knots to a dead stop, costing them a 2nd, dropping back 6 places to 8th for the second race of the day. "I don't know what happened, we just hit something under the water. We asked around and they suggested it might have been a turtle, or something like that," a shocked Vittorio said while meticulously checking over his hulls.
Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin, who recently took second on the podium during the 2015 Worlds in Arhus, Denmark, are tentatively sitting in third, but very likely will jump ahead of Bissaro/Sicouri due to a scoring error by the Race Committee. The OCS they bare on results is being protested by Waterhouse/Darmanin with video footage of their boat going back to amend their early intentions. Really consistent top ten finishes during the first three races, with two of their scores being back to back bullets. They did, however, feel a bit of pain on the final race of the day falling way back into 22nd after a layline error pushed by Waterhouse. "We just sort of got a bit complacent, and we prioritized the left lane as it was really important for the whole day up until the last race. We had a good start, but I just made an error on the layline and it was really expensive obviously. Like yeah, not a good way to end the day but it will probably be our throw out, for sure," said Jason with upbeat demeanor, and even laughed when he heard his finish was a 22nd. "Wasn't as bad as I thought, I guess! We were lookin' really bad there for awhile."
Jason's upbeat attitude even applies to the regatta as a whole, where some might be in opposition regarding conditions, Jason feels Clearwater is a wonderful place due to its ability to challenge sailors with all conditions. "Big waves, big chop, lots of different sea state, it's been a really good regatta to find out who the best sailor is."
Just six points behind the young Australian team is former Tornado veteran Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank of Austria. Zajac noted how much of a drag race the first leg always felt like and kept this in mind when preparing to start. Getting off the line cleanly and making gains downwind in the slight swell we saw today was how Zajac and Frank managed to stay more times than not with the top pack. The former Tornado sailor is looking forward to his debut in the Nacra 17 with his female counterpart Tanja. Two years ago this team was hardly ever seen far from the top five, yet with mounting double digit finishes, they are trying to get their groove back.
This past 2016 World Cup, the pair took home a 7th, and now sitting comfortably in fourth, they may have found the secret sauce. "For us its important to find out the good material to stay competitive with the good guys, and yeah, we are happy where we are and hope to get a little bit better so we can be on/near the podium come August." Thomas is looking forward to competing with a female counterpart in the Rio 2016 games, in which this will be the maiden voyage for the Nacra class. "It's a more modern class, new vs. old school comparing the tornado and Nacra. And, the biggest difference would probably be - you sail with a girl!"
Rounding out the top five is Allan Norregaard and Annette Viborg Andreasen of Denmark. The long, sun filled day didn't seem to bother either these stable minded sailors as they sailed their own races, and were able to keep top ten after their initial eleventh to begin the day's set.
This 2016 World Championship for the Nacra class is operating on all cylinders and the sailors couldn't be keener to take on the varying conditions that come their way. Three races scheduled for tomorrow to end the qualifying round, and before we know it, Sunday's medal race will be upon us.
Qualifying from the 9-11th of February. Silver and Gold fleet racing from the 12-14th with the Medal races on the 14th. The main hub of information will on www.49er.org
NZL leads 49er and 49erFX (from Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting New Zealand)
New Zealand sits atop both the 49er and 49erFX leader board at the end of day four of the 2016 49er and 49erFX World Championships in Clearwater, Florida.
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke sailed well again today to now lead by 28 points.
Meanwhile Alex Maloney and Molly Meech have climbed into the overall lead in the women's fleet with two days of competition to run.
Conditions today were described as light and tricky with the breeze decreasing as the day progressed.
49er
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have stepped out their overall lead in the 2016 49er World Championships edging closer to securing what would be their fourth consecutive world crown in the hotly contested Olympic men's skiff class.
While their clean-streak of race wins came to an end, the New Zealanders overall performance on day four of the regatta was still among the best of the fleet with a 3-1-2-11 score-card from today's four races. They discard the 11th as their worst result.
Reigning Olympic champions Nathan Outteridge and Ian Jensen, from Australia, are lying 2nd overall behind Burling and Tuke, but 28 points adrift. Currently in 3rd overall are Diego Botin and Iago Lopez Marra of Spain, five points back from the Aussies.
Tomorrow will see the fleet split into gold and silver with the top 25 boats progressing into gold fleet racing from here.
49er FX
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech have continued their strong form into day four of the regatta and have taken the overall lead in the battle for women's 49erFX 2016 world title as a result.
Starting the day with a 3rd place the NZL Sailing Team pair went on to take race seven of the series in convincing style crossing the line well clear of the fleet. In their next race they placed 10th, but discard that as their worst and will go into gold fleet racing tomorrow having not finished outside the top ten in any of their races so far.
"We got out there this morning and were quite surprised at how nice a wind there was and the first two races went really well for us, and then the last one we had a bit of a bad start and managed to sail through the fleet for a top ten finish so overall I think we're really happy with today," says Meech.
"Our attitude is to just take each day as it comes, and race by race, and just try and stay consistent."
Their leading margin is narrow with Victoria Jurczok and Anika Lorenz of Germany just three points behind them, and Brazil's Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze only one point further adrift.
Maloney and Meech have admitted to working hard towards improving their performance in light wind conditions and today that paid dividends.
"Molly and I have had a pretty big focus on our light air speed in the last few years and we're really happy with how far we've come with our light air settings," said Alex Maloney.
New Zealand's young pair of Erica Dawson and Ellie Copeland (from the Aon Fast Track Squad) continue to impress with a couple of excellent races today including a 6th and a 5th. They're in 15th overall at the end of day four and have easily made the cut for gold fleet, an impressive achievement for them.
Nacra 17
With twelve races now completed in the 2016 Nacra 17 World Championships New Zealand is lying 15th and 18th in the 43 boat fleet.
Packing in five races on day four of the regatta both kiwi crews had some good results, and some mid-fleet finishes. Olivia Mackay and Micah Wilkinson (Aon Fast Track Squad) are lying 15th overall, while Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (NZL Sailing Team) are not far behind in 18th.
Outteridge/Jensen and Waterhouse/Darmanin in medal contention (from Cora Zillich, Australian Sailing)
Olympic gold medallists Nathan Outteridge (NSW) and Iain Jensen (NSW) as well as Nacra 17 World #1 Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin are spearheading the Australian contingent at the 2016 Nacra 17, 49er, and 49erFX World Championships in Clearwater, Florida with both crews in second place after day four of the event (Friday, 12 February 2016 EST) and with two days to go.
In the 49er, three Australian Sailing crews will progress to the 34-boats Gold Fleet with Olympic gold medallists Nathan Outteridge (NSW) and Iain Jensen (NSW) defending their second place, David Gilmour (WA) and Lewis Brake (QLD) moving up into 17th and Queenslanders Joel Turner and Tom Siganto, who qualified ranked 27th.
In the women's 49erFX fleets the battle is tight between the three Australian Sailing crews who all progress to the top-21 Gold Fleet racing with Tess Lloyd (VIC) and Caitlin Elks (WA) ranked 16th, Olivia Price (NSW) and Eliza Solly (VIC) in 18th and Haylee Outteridge (NSW) and Nina Curtis (NSW) following in 19th.
Nacra 17
In the Nacra 17 four races were completed on Friday with an up and down day for Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) winning two and adding a tenth and 20th. The result sees the pair move from third into second, after also the Jury corrected a scoring error from Wednesday.
"We had great day with new conditions here in Clearwater. It was another tricky day with four races. In the first race we had a shocking start and climbed our way back to tenth. The next two we sailed really well to get two bullets and in the final race everything just went a little wrong.
It was unfortunate to finish on a bad note but we are still learning heaps about ourselves as a team and still putting some solid results on the score board. Sometimes you nail everything and some times you make mistakes, we just don't like making mistakes twice. There will be three more races tomorrow so we will push hard for a good place going into medal race Sunday."
The Nacra 17 has completed 12 races thus far and has one day of fleet racing left with three races scheduled for Saturday, 13 February, before Sunday's Medal Race.
49er
In the 49er and 49erFX fleets, Friday, 12 February was the last day of qualifying with the fleets now splitting into Gold and Silver fleet.
Four races were completed in the 49er and Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen finished the day on a high and with a race win after a 7-18-6 in the first three races.
Australian Sailing Squad's David Gilmour (WA) and Lewis Brake (QLD) had the strongest comeback of the day when the pair put in a convincing 1-4-4-13 series, which saw them jump from 49th into 17th and thus into Gold Fleet.
Queenslanders Joel Turner (QLD) and Tom Siganto (QLD) also qualified for Gold Fleet in 27th after posting a 16-19-6-8 series today.
Harry Price (NSW) and Harry Morton (NSW) will continue racing in Silver Fleet.
49erFX
Three races were completed in the 49erFX fleet with all Australian Sailing crews securing a spot in the Gold Fleet.
Australian Sailing Squad's Tess Lloyd (VIC) and Caitlin Elks (WA) are heading into the final series as the top ranked Australian crew in 16th after posting a 13-11-3 series today.
"We had awesome skiff conditions today and finally some warm sunshine! Today was all about a good start with the speed to play the left hand side of the course. The last race we were able link everything together and come way with a third.
Early days and very excited for racing tomorrow in the gold fleet when the racing really steps up!"
Olivia Price (NSW) and Eliza Solly (VIC) head into Gold Fleet ranked 18th with Haylee Outteridge (NSW) and Nina Curtis (NSW) following in 19th.