Olympic Diary: July 29, 2024 - An ambitious Day 2 at Marseille
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 29 Jul 18:12 BST
30 July 2024
AUS - 49er FX - Marseille - Paris2024 Olympic Regatta - July 29, 2024 © World Sailing / Sander van der Borch
After losing all of the Windsurfer program yesterday, due to light winds, today wasn't much better with the Mens Windsurfer only sailing one race while the Women managed two - leaving a big overhang in the race program. The Mens and Womens Skiff events fared much better sailing three races, and have sailed six races in two days.
Winds were forecast to be light for Monday with the updated forecast still promising better things to come on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the Mens Skiff the young McKiwis have maintained and extended their overall lead having won three of the six race sailed. They still have an edge over the Irish crew, and both have built up a 10pt margin on one of the series favorites, Diego Botin, the Bronze medalist from Tokyo2020.
With all six races sailed in winds of under 10kts, and mostly in just half that strength, the question to be answered is whether the Kiwi and Irish crews can maintain their advantage over the fleet in fresher breezes. Of course, another day of light winds plays into the hands of Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie, if they can maintain current form - and the same for the Irish crew of Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove.
In the Womens skiff there was a sensation in Race 4, the first of the day, when five teams including the defending Olympic champions, Brazil's Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze were disqualified for a starting infringement under the Black Flag rule. The French crew of Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon had another consistent day adding another couple of second places to their pointscore for a total of five from six races. They now enjoy a 10pt lead over the current world champions Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz (NED) -like the Mens event the weather remains the imponderable factor, for Tuesday. More ight winds and the French will probably extend their advantage. Stronger winds and others may come into play. However the consistent performance of the French when others are failing quite badly, has already given the host team a significant advantage.
The iQFoil made its Olympic debut on the Marseille course with the Women leading the way. Britain's Emma Wilson leads overall after a 1,2 scoreline, from Marta Maggetti (ITA) and Maria Bazo(GER).
In the Mens event only one race was able to be sailed, which lasted less than four minutes. French sailor Nicolas Goyard leads from Nicolo Renna (ITA), and Johan Soe (DEN) with Josh Armit (NZL) in fourth place.
Full results click here
How Day 2 unfolded:
1539hrs UTC Assume that racing is over for the day.
1520hrs UTC The Noticeboard is showing that the Womens Windsurfer and Mens Windsurfer are both postponed (Race 2 for the Men and Race 3 for the Women. The Men have only completed one race of five scheduled for today, with another five scheduled for Tuesday. The Womens have three races outstanding from today and another five scheduled for Tuesday.
1515hrs UTC Women Windsurfer Race 2: 1. ESP; 2. GBR; 3 ITA; 4. PER; 5 HKG. Overall after Race 2: 1. GBR; 2. ITA; 3. PER; 4. HKG; 5. GER. Wind was recorded at 9kts from 219° - 223°.
1454hrs UTC Overall in the Womens Skiff after Race 6: 1. FRA; 2. NED; 3 ITA; 4. GER; 5; AUS. France has a 10pt margin over NED - having scored 5x 2nd places and an 8th - which is their discard. Germany and Australia are both on 35pts.
1445hrs UTC Overall in Mens Skiff after Race 6: 1. NZL; 2. IRL; 3. ESP; 4. GER; 5. URU; 6. USA; Kiwis have won three races, with 2x 8th places and a 3rd. They are dropping an 8th place for 14pts. IRL are on 19pts and ESP are on 28pts - so a gap is starting to open. Wind was 6kts from 215°-220° in Race 6.
1415hrs UTC Finish Womens Skiff Race 6: 1. FIN; 2. FRA; 3. AUS; 4. BEL; 5. NED;
1405hrs UTC Womens Skiff is in the start sequence for Race 6. Mens Skiff have started Race 6 - on Leg 1 wind dropped to 6.7kts for Men and 6.0kts for Women.
Womens Windsurfer Race 1 Finish: 1. GBR; 2. CHN; 3 GER; 4 PER; 5. ITA;
1350hrs UTC Womens Skiff Provisional Overall after Race 5: 1. FRA; 2. NED; 3. ITA; 4. GER; 5. USA;
1345hrs UTC Womens Skiff Race 5. Provisional at finish: 1. CAN; 2. FRA; 3. ITA; 4. ESP; 5. NOR; Mens Windsurfer: At Finish Race 1: 1. FRA; 2. ITA; 3. DEN; 4. NZL; 5. USA.
1330hrs UTC: Mens and Womens Skiff Race 5 are both underway. At Mark 3 of 4 in the Womens the order is 1. CAN; 2. FRA; 3. ITA. The Mens Skiff would appears to have finished (Race Tracker is ahead of Results and TV is ahead of both). Tracker positions at Finish Race 5: 1. NZL; 2. IRL; 3. SUI; 4. CRO; 5. GBR; 6. CHN; 7. NED
1300hrs UTCMens and Womens Windsurfer are still under Postponement.
1257hrs UTC; Womens Skiff race 4 Provisional finish: 1. ITA; 2. CZE; 3; USA; 4. SWE; 5. BEL; 6. CHN; 7. AUS; 8. FRA;
Provisional Points: FRA 6pts; NED 7pts;GER 12pts; ITA 19pts; CZE 20pts; USA 20pts; JPN 20pts; AUS 21pts
1233hrs UTC Mens Skiff Race 4: Provisional finish: 1. Pol; 2. URU; 3. FRA; 4. IRL; 8. NZL; Italy lead Womens Skiff on Leg 2 with USA in second.
1222hrs UTC Women's Race 4 has started OK. Were under a Black Flag - GBR, CAN, NOR, GER and BRA all DSQ'd for a Black Flag infringement at the start.. Breeze reported at 9kts and building - Force 3.
1217hrs UTCWomen's Skiff in another start sequence. Tracker on Mens course is producing some erratic reesults, but they would seem to be on the third leg (second upwind) Breeze is officially reported at 10kts from 195°.
1203hrs UTC: The Mens Skiff is underway and have finished Leg 1 with Uruguay leading. The Womens Skiff is in a start sequence - which was subject to a general Recall in the first start. Conditions look good on the course with a Force 2-3 breeze and sea condition. Wind showing at just under 10kts on the Mens Skiff course.
1157hrs UTC There appears to be a good breeze on the Corniche course for the 49erFX and racing should get underway on time
1115hrs UTC: The 49er are being towed out to the race area. However the wind appears to be getting lighter, and racing has been postponed until 1400hrs local time.
1030hrs UTC: All four classes due to race today are under postponement
Winds were forecast to be light for Monday with the updated forecast still promising better things to come on Tuesday and Wednesday. The fresh winds are now not expected until Friday. Winds are forecast to be light on Thursday when the Medal races are due to be sailed in the Mens and Womens Skiff (49er and 49erFX). The Mens (ILCA 7) and Womens Dinghy (ILCA 6) will start their official racing on that day.
The Mens and Womens Windsurfer sail their Finals on Friday, when the breeze is expected to be fresh.
Today/Monday's schedule called for:
- Womens Windsurfer: Races 1 - 4 sailing on the Marseille Course starting at 1203hrs local time (on the original schedule)
- Mens Windsurfer: Races 1 - 4 sailing on the Marseille Course starting at 1223hrs local time (on the original schedule)
- Mens Skiff: Races 4 - 6 sailing on the Frioul Course starting at 1205hrs local time (on the original schedule)
- Womens Skiff: Races 4 - 6 sailing on the Corniche Course starting at 1215hrs local time (on the original schedule)
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