28th SEA Games at Singapore - Day 2
by Icarus Sailing Media 8 Jun 2015 16:31 BST
5-16 June 2015
Here in the tropical heat of Singapore, we join day 2 of the prestigious 28th South East Asian Games at the National Sailing Center. The top athletes of the region were eager to get out on the race course, but the tropical weather had other plans.
The early morning rain kept athletes ashore, with time to relax, have fun, and follow the motto of this year's Games - "Celebrate the Extraordinary".
Eventually the clouds faded away, and racing kicked off. Friendships ashore for nations, but arch rivals on the race track – as athletes fought for superiority in the tricky conditions.
Sailing is a diverse sport, offering a range of boat types, sailing styles and racing formats. The 20 sailing events being contested at the SEA Games demand a mix of skills which take many years to master – to deliver front of fleet results.
Singapore, skippered by Jovina Choo, showcased a powerhouse of teamwork in the Keelboat Women fleet Racing, knocking out the performance of the day. The team's fiery assault around the track, rewarded them with a hat trick of back to back race wins. Teamwork is key to success in the crewed events. Working as one, the team must co-ordinate maneuvers. Their characters and personalities must gel, and each athlete must possess skill sets that complement each other.
Another faultless Singaporean performance in the RSX Women Olympic Class so far for Audrey Yong who counts 5 bullets from 5 races! In the RSX Men event, Thailand's Natthaphong Phonoppharat leads with a helpful points margin, chased by Singapore's Leonard Ong.
Synergy, communication and an impressive combination of constant attack & counter attack was the order of the day in the Optimist Team Racing. The game was raised even higher, by the shifty weather on the race track. Malaysia hunted down their opponents and, after some intense battles, came out on top, securing the gold medal to thunderous cheering from their teammates on the beach. Singapore just couldn't make the final attack, finishing second, with third place to Thailand. Malaysia's win will no doubt boost their athletes' confidence over the coming days.
A full day of racing wrapped up with the first medal ceremony for the Optimist Team Racing. Elation to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand who secured their first medals of the Games. Racing continues tomorrow – join us again for the latest updates.
www.seagames2015.com/the-games/sports/sailing