Toshiba J/80 Worlds at La Trinite sur Mer, France Day 1
by Denis van den Brink 5 Jul 2007 17:14 BST
1-7 July 2007
A strong wind start to the Toshiba J80 worlds in La Trinite © Franck Gicquiaud /
www.littoral-ouest.com
As we expected, Sproul (GB), Muenker (All.) or Darden (USA), but this very punchy first day of the J80 Toshiba world championship at La Trinité sur Mer was astonishing for the Spanish teams coming from Santander. All along the three races of the day, they were in first place. This unbelievable J80 world championship has overtaken all the expectations with perfect weather conditions to push boats and sailors to limits. 124 one-design boats were ready to compete this morning, about twice that of last year's American world championship. No doubt it was real fun with strong winds reaching 30 knots during the last race of the day. Speed records on many boats were established, with high levels of more than 18 knots measured on GPS.
Jose Torcida Seghers and Ignacio Camino were more than smiling yesterday evening, after a really brilliant day for the two teams of the Real Club of Santander. With two first places for each of them in 3 races, respectively on the yellow and on the blue round, they have impressed everybody, even the best specialists of the J80. According to the Brit Kevin Sproul and to the German Ulrich Muenker. “The Spanish boats are going very fast”, insists Kevin Sproul, rather satisfied with himself, having won one of the three race. “We knew the Spanish were well trained but we did not expect them do be so good in such a strong wind”.
The wind was quite strong yesterday in La Trinité sur Mer, starting with more than 20 knots at the beginning of the day, and reaching 30 knots in gusts at the end of the day. “During our last downwind run, we reach 18.5 knots” laughed Kevin Sproul, with his face covered in salt. “The boat was literally disappearing below water on the downwind legs. Very twitchy but so much fun!”. The Spanish Jose Torcida Seghers totally agrees, being very satisfied by the work done during last winter to train the fleet of Santander in preparation for the worlds. “This day was the day to go fast”, he emphasizes “but the wind started to shift at the end and it becomes difficult to read the wind on the water…”
The best teams have quickly learned the tricks of the Bay of Quiberon and are already in the top places. From Kevin Sproul and Ulrich Muenker to the 2006 Texan J80 world champion Glen Darden, they all are ready to keep a close eye on the fast Spanish teams, well prepared also on tactics. On the French side, 4 teams appear among the first 10 places. Victor Lanier, twice champion of France in match-racing, is confirming his potential and is in third place just behind the two Spanish teams. Luc Nadal and Sylvain Pelissier, from the YC Crouesty, and “professor” Patrick Bot from the Ecole Navale, have sailed all day long among the best world sailors and appear tonight in the first 10 places.
With the strong wind, technical and material problems occurred on many boats and about 20 boats had to retire before the end of the day.
This seventh world championship of the dynamic J80 class has started well with start with three great first races. Competition resumed today with races starting at 11.00 French time.