2018 SYC Nacra 17 Shanghai Cup and Nacra 17 Asian Championship - Day 1
by Shanghai Cup 29 Sep 2018 03:05 BST
28-30 September 2018
2018 Shanghai Cup - Day 1 © ICARUS Sports
On September 28, Beijing time, the 2018 SYC Nacra 17 Shanghai Cup and Nacra 17 Asian Championship officially opened in Dishui Lake, Shanghai. There are 12 teams from 12 countries and regions, with a total of 24 of the world's top sailors competing on among each other.
With a maximum temperature of 24 degrees degreesC and an average wind of 13 knots, the experienced sailors found today's conditions a bit too light and had to make up for that with their skills and techniques. The sailors did managed though to provide an amazing spectacle on the technologically advanced Nacra 17.
The final check for the wind and the equipment was carried out at 11am. The first round started at 13pm with all 12 boats crossing the starting line and the wind about 10-14 knots.
As one of the top ten World Championships teams and the winner of the Kiel Regatta, Team UK was the first one to cross the starting line and maintained that place until the end of the first race. Team UK took the lead from the start, and successfully kept it until the end.
During the second race, the British team kept its leading position followed closely by Team China, while Team Japan had to abandon the race due to equipment problems. Team Hong Kong capsized close to the finishing line, but eventually managed to complete the race.
The wind kept getting stronger during the third race and Team UK continued to lead, with Sweden and Australia following in the second and third place respectively.
With even better wind conditions, Team Austria - also one of the top ten 2018 World Championships teams and bronze medallist at the Rio Olympic - took the lead over the British team at the fourth race. Team China put up a great performance at this race finishing in third place.
During the fifth race, Team Japan was the first one to cross the finishing line but due to a penalty called by the judge, it ended up the last runner. Team China though managed to maintain the third place.
At the last race of the day, the British team once again took the lead and completed the day winning first place in four out of six races.
A stronger wind up to 20 knots is expected for the second day of the race and we have yet to see if Team UK will be able to maintain its rank under those conditions.