2008 Australian Laser Championships at Blairgowrie - Day 2
by James Mitchell / Di Pearson 31 Dec 2007 08:41 GMT
30 December 2007 - 4 January 2008
Despite her top three results yesterday, Sarah Blanck has dropped to second place in the Radial fleet during the Australian Laser nationals © Andrea Francolini
New leaders at Australian Laser Championships
World champion Tom Slingsby’s (AUS) OCS in Race 5 of the 08 Australian Laser Championship late yesterday has handed Nick Thompson (GBR) a one point lead from Sydney International Regatta winner Michael Leigh (CAN) on 13 points in a strong international field of 126 sailors.
Deniss Karpak (EST), World Ranked No 10 and recent winner of Estonia’s Best Young Athlete of the Year award, currently holds third place, 10 points adrift of the leader. With Slingsby now down in 17th place.
Ashley Brunning is the top placed Aussie in seventh place with a win included in his score. However, when race drops come into play, Slingsby and others will have the opportunity to move up the board.
In the Radials, which also features a strong international line-up, Veronika Fenclova (CZE) had a brilliant day; scoring three bullets to take the series lead away from Sarah Blanck (AUS), whose two second places and a third were not good enough to hold her lead. She is now second placed, three points behind the Czech girl. Nathalie Brugger (SUI) is presently third overall ahead of Kiwi Olympic hope Jo Aleh.
This is an important event for the Radial Women, ahead of their World Championship to be held in New Zealand in March. With four places remaining to fill the Laser Radial Women’s World’s quotient, some may sail well enough in Melbourne to gain selection.
Rohan Langford has jumped to a 17 point lead over Jarrard Lincoln in the all Aussie 4.7 fleet. With only a 12 point spread between third and sixth places, this is shaping up as a battle that will only be decided in the four-race finals series which starts on January 3rd.
The Championship is now one race ahead of schedule. The Race Committee has decided to hold a morning race today to take advantage of forecast northerly winds at Blairgowrie before a 41 degree heat wave takes hold.
A layday has been called for the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron hosted event on New Year’s Day.
Results are available on line at www.viclaser.yachting.org.au