Zhik 29er World Championships at Pwllheli Sailing Club - Day 2
by Jerelyn Biehl & Tim Bilbrough 11 Aug 2015 00:14 BST
8-14 August 2015
Day 2 of the Zhik 29er World Championships at Pwllheli © Robert Hajduk /
www.ShutterSail.com
Increased breeze and cresting waves were the order of the day for the second day of qualifying at the 2015 Zhik 29er World Championship. Conditions tested the best with many returning with broken masts, ripped sails and gear, while the top of the fleet had one of the best days of racing!
James Wilson/Oscar Gunn (NZL) and Juho Kotiranta/Akseli Keskinen (FIN) remain tied for first after seven races with both teams carrying five firsts and 1 second. Tam Lindsay/William McKenzie (NZL) are lurking just 2 points behind with Chris Williford/Wade Waddell (USA) trailing by one more point. British National champs James Grummett/Daniel Budden (GBR) had a stellar day bringing them to round out the top 5.
Conditions are forecasted to go much lighter for the remainder of the series, which will further challenge the teams who so far have been heavy air specialists. Mimi El-Kazindar/Emma Loveridge (GBR) remain the top female team in 28th, with hugh bonus points for persevering through the extremely tough conditions.
Racing for qualifying continues on Tuesday, August 11 with the finals to start August 12 and the prizegiving on August 14.
www.29erworlds.org
GBR sailors at the Worlds
Day 2 got off in almost identical conditions to day one. 15 Knots South West constant, gusting mid 20's, moderate seas and with the sun shining bright by 11:30, this is sailing.
A few nerves as crews heighten expectations. Those that are disciplined and hit their rhythm and routine quickly are the ones who perform. At this level, taking a race to find that rhythm and routine can be a knockout punch, you can recover, but you can also put yourself under immense pressure.
Those in the top 10 are establishing their position and showing why they deserve to be in those positions. When it's racing this tight at the top its a game of not taking risks and being consistent and carrying as few points through to the next round as possible.
With 6 bullets a piece for NZL 2354 James Wilson & Oscar Gunn, FIN 2156 Juho Kotiranta & Akseli Keskinen and 4 bullets a piece for NZL 1874 Tam Lindsay & William Mckenzie and USA 259 Christopher Williford & Wade Waddell, there is a lot to watch in that top group. Aussies, AUS 2135 John Cooley & Simon Hoffman are right in the hunt only a couple of points behind. The powerhouses of GBR 25 Dan Budden & James Grummett however have stormed into 5th overall and are taking a strong foothold in the top 10 with 4 2nd's, 2 3rd's and a 4th.
Looking to the girls, GBR 11 Mimi El-Khazinder and Emma Loveridge continue to storm ahead and are giving the guys a run for their money, having just come back from EUROSAF's in Brest. Sitting in 27th overall, looking at the numbers, it's not impossible but they may well be the only girls in gold fleet securing their place early on. The girls from down under AUS 2238 Natasha Bryant & Annie Wilmot continue with solid consistent performances.
A number of the girls are now starting to bunch up behind the Aussies including GBR 2380 Courtney Bilbrough & Harriet Ward, NZL 702 Greta Stewart & Kate Stewart, ESP 1787 Carla Munte & Marta Munte, GER 2246 Fenja Valentien & Emma Frederking, ESP 1956 Flavia Robles & Maria Cantero.
The best of the mixed are the Dutch pair NED 2177 Odile Van Aanholt & Quinten Bramervaer, followed by FRA 1568 Megret Brieux & Liliam Mercier and NED 2252 Ismene Usman & Ole Nissenwith. The best of the Brits being GBR 2054 Julia Noble & Matty Lyons.
Tomorrow we move into lightweight territory with a forecast of 5 knots. There is going to need be a significant amount of concentration applied for the four races tomorrow as this will be a true test of everyone's all-round sailing skills.
Full results