420 World Championships at Lake Neusiedl, Austria - Day 4
by International 420 Class Asssociation 5 Aug 2012 07:17 BST
30 July - 5 August 2012
Showdown set for Sunday
Despite the light wind, racing was looking like a distinct possibility as teams were sent out for an 1100 start on Saturday’s race day 5 at the 2012 420 Junior World Championships in Austria. But after waiting for around an hour on the race course, teams were eventually sent ashore in the hope of more breeze in the afternoon. This failed to materialize and racing was called off for the day at around 1630 hours.
So the action now moves onto Sunday, the final day of racing and World Championship decider. With three races already completed for the six race final series, up to a further three races can be contested. Sunday’s forecast is for light winds in the morning, increasing in the afternoon. The Race Committee have until 1700 to get racing underway, so it will be tight to fit in all three.
Disappointment for some teams who are likely to lose out on any opportunity of a last minute surge up the leaderboard, but with 9 races completed, the cream of the 420 Open and 420 Ladies fleets have already shown their ability.
420 Open
Massive talent is being showcased by Alex and George Kavas, the brothers from Greece. Their 420 pedigree is well known after a gold at last year’s 420 European Championship and a bronze at the 420 Junior European Championship, but no-one was quite expecting such a run of form. Seven races wins in the 9 races so far completed is a first in recent 420 World Championship history.
There is huge talent competing in the 108 boat 420 Open Fleet, but the Greek performance is purely about speed, and the brothers have managed to find a gear that the other teams are yet to engage with.
Practically the only teams that can catch the Greek brothers are Guillaume Pirouelle/Valentin Sipan (FRA) and David Charles/Alex Charles (ESP), but they would need to clock up some race wins and the Greeks finish towards the back of the fleet, which is unlikely, to be in with any chance.
The tougher battle will be for silver and bronze with the French and Spanish teams set to be battling with almost all of the other teams in the top 10.
Open Results after Day 4: (top ten, 9 races)
1. GRE 51581 - KAVAS Alex/KAVAS Georges – 11 pts
2. FRA 54608 - PIROUELLE Guillaume/SIPAN Valentin - 24 pts
3. ESP 54228 - CHARLES David/CHARLES Alex - 31 pts
4. ESP 54544 - MAS Santi/MAS David (ESP) - 48 pts
5. AUS 54203 - FRANKLIN Josh /GOUGH Alexander - 49 pts
6. GBR 54182 - DIBB Craig/COX Charlie – 57 pts
7. GRE53460 - MPAKATSIAS Fratzekos/TIMOGIANNAKIS Evangelos – 62 pts
8. GBR 54082 - DERBYSHIRE Harry/LOVESEY Tom - 66 pts
9. GBR54164 - MORSLEY Toby/WALLIS Matt – 70 pts
10. BRA 52848 - PARANHOS Ricardo/ESSLE Patrick - 72 pts
420 Ladies
The leaderboard is much closer in the 420 Ladies with all to play for right to the end, particularly between the top two teams of Nadja Horwitz/Sofia Middleton of Chile and Rachel Lee/Cecilia Low from Singapore. With only 1 point separating the two after 9 races, and their performances almost matching, anything could happen tomorrow.
Jessica Lavery/Georgina Mothersele (GBR) are in third, and just 1 point ahead of Singapore’s Kimberly Lim/Savannah Siew.
The teams in third through to ninth on the scoreboard only have 22 points separating them so focus, concentration and no slip-ups will be the aim of the game.
Ladies Results after Day 4: (top ten, 9 races)
1. CHI 54622 - HORWITZ Nadja/MIDDLETON Sofia - 24 pts
2. SIN 53659 - LEE Rachel/LOW Cecilia - 25 pts
3. GBR 54194 - LAVERY Jessica/MOTHERSELE Georgina - 47 pts
4. SIN 53933 - LIM Kimberly/SIEW Savannah - 48 pts
5. SIN 54140 - KHNG Griselda/SHU Xian Lee (SIN) – 53 pts
6. ITA 54550 - PETERNOSTER Ilaria/DI SALLE Bernedetta – 53 pts
7. FRA 54609 - PORET Jennifer/CHEVET Louise – 59 pts
8. ESP 54542 - MIQUEL Aura/CANO Marina – 59 pts
9. ITA 54401 - OMARI Carlotta/CIRILLO Francesca Russo - 59 pts
10. GER 53924 - KNAUS Isabella/FISCHER Laura – 80 pts
The final day of racing is scheduled to get underway at 1100 hours on Sunday 5 August 2012.
Alongside the 420 World and Ladies World Championship titles, teams will also be battling it out for the following trophies:
William Sanchez Trophies - awarded to the highest placed team in the World and Ladies World fleets, both aged 16 or under, at the end of the year. One for the World fleet and one for the Ladies fleet.
Huck Scott Memorial Trophy - awarded to the youngest team competing in the 420 World Championship, in either the Open or the Ladies.
John Merricks Trophies - awarded to the highest placed team in the World and Ladies World fleets, both aged 18 or under, at the end of the year.
Francis Mouvet Trophy - awarded to the nation who has the highest placed three boats in the World Championship using both the World and Ladies fleets.
The 2012 420 World and Ladies World Championships are being hosted by the Austrian Sailing Federation in conjunction with the Austrian 420 Class Association and the International 420 Class Association.
www.420sailing.org/worlds