Asian Games 2018 - day 3

Asian Games 2018, day 3. Laser 4.7, Bairagi Govind (IND) and Poonpat Saranwong (THA) © Carmelita

On a relatively hot day today at the Asian Games 2018 Sailing Competition, being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, the competition added to the heat and the temperature went up a few degrees as the 144 competitors took to the water to position themselves against their rivals ahead in the series. As the temperature rises, the pressure is on the sailors’ to not to drop a place, remain vigilant to catch the wind shift and not to miss that significant gust that could propel them to a race win or drop down.

In the 49ers the leader board had a reshuffle as Japan’s FURUYA SHINGEN and HACHIYAMA SHINJI powered around the race course to win two of the three races of the day. This puts the Japanese duo in pole position going into the fourth day of racing day after ahead of Korea’s CHAE BONJIN and KIM DONGWOK and India’s KELAPANDA CHENGAPPA GANAPATHY and ASHOK THAKKAR VARUN.

Japan’s 49er helm, SHINGEN commented on the days racing, “Everything went fine today – with this wind it is easy to make a big mistake, especially as all sailors are more or less equally matched. So I went to the water with the intention to take it easy and just sail well. I had two good races, with a little bit of luck, but good races. In the third race I missed some shifts and missed a gust at the top mark and rounded in third or maybe a bit further back. I had a good downwind and managed to finish third but it was a hard race. I love sailing in Jakarta, the venue is special and we have had great conditions this week.”

Malaysia’s MOHD AFENDY KHAIRULNIZAM on the turn of fortunes in the Laser Standard this week said, “It was a gusty and shifty breeze with anything from 7 – 15 knots. I try to do my own thing and not worry about anything or anyone else, I can’t control that. Tomorrow it’s just another day and I will sail the same and enjoy it and race my best.”

Malaysia’s KAMAN SHAH MUHAMMAD FAUZI has moved in the pole position in Laser 4.7 Open after China’s WANG JIANXIONG was awarded a UFD today in the 6th race. India’s Govind Bairagi maintains the third position.

In the Laser Radial, Japan’s DOI MANAMI maintains her undisputed position on the leader board, followed by China, Thailand, Malaysia and India. As reported yesterday, the protest reopening which maybe a game changer is yet to be decided on at the time of publishing this report and we shall update as we have an outcome.

In the 470 Men and Women, it is pretty much the same as of yesterday’s standings.

In the RS:X Men and Women too, not much has changed on the board after today’s two races.

“The coaches, sailors and support staff have been awe of the conditions which Jakarta has had to offer till now. The venue which was commissioned in a record time of 7 months from land allocation to completion of the construction and fit-out works will see many more events in the future”, promised Admiral Darwanto, the President of the Indonesian Sailing Federation.

Tomorrow is a rest day for sailors and races are scheduled for Tuesday, after which the picture will become more clearer.

Racing is scheduled to start at 1200 local time day after for all classes, except the RS One, which shall have a Race tommorow morningand we shall be back with more reports from the race areas.

Resuklts: http://www.asiansailing.org/asian-games-2018-sailing-competition-day-3/