Strong Breeze, Strong Competition For RS:X Santander 2014 Fleets

As always, a change of the wind causes changes in the results. The stronger the change – the more dramatic reshuffle we see. That was exactly the case for today!

Stable strong wind across the course allowed sailors for the fulltime planing. But the poor-to-killing-strong wind at the top mark which was set in the pretty unfair area under the cliffs, led to some very unpredictable changes in the results.

That was evidently seen when the guys were switching from full planing to a full stop within 50 metres to the top mark. "The more overlay - the better you go" scenario has spoiled a proper sailing impression, but the top sailors are on top anyway.

The second race was the toughest wind wise for girls with extreme wind gusts on the downwind and leaders capsized multiple times during the race.

Charline Picon (FRA) has set high standards in the Women’s RS:X fleet, showing extreme consistency with three third place finishes today regardless of the racing conditions. The experienced French racer has kept increasing her lead this week and is an impressive 20 points clear now.

Zofia Noceti-Klepacka from Poland climbed up to second with two bullets today. Another French racer Eugenie Ricard (4,6,11) climbed to third overall and is closely followed by Maayan Davidovich from Israel, bronze medallist from the 2013 RS:X World Championship. Davidovich got a 5,4,2 in her bag today.

It was a frustrating day for Britons’ Bryony Shaw and Izzy Hamilton as they dropped from second and and seventh to fifth and ninth respectively. Patricia Freitas from Brazil also dropped down to 10th having been third overnight.

London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Marina Alabau (2,10,8) improved after an unsuccessful start of the regatta in light wind and jumped and jumped up to eighth position. Alabau was happy with her speed even though some tactical decisions were not that good.

The Men’s RS:X leader board has changed as well. The man of the day and present leader of the regatta is Julien Bontemps from France who, with his 3,1,1, jumped from fifth overall to first. He holds a six point lead over Poland’s Piotr Myszka (7,4,6) and his compatriot Przemyslaw Miarczynski (2,5,4) who climbed into the top three from seventh overall.

It was a tough racing day for Pierre le Coq (15,21,13) to and he slips down from third overall to 11th. Strong wind specialists like Nick Dempsey (11,20,19) and Dorian Van Rijsselberge (14,6,8) were not too happy with their racing at but still confidently sit in the top ten.

With another three races scheduled for tomorrow the overall picture can be easily changed with the top ten in the Men’s and Women’s fleet quite close on points which makes the game very interesting.

Schedule of Racing:

12-18 September, Laser and Laser Radial
13-19 September, RS:X Men and RS:X Women
14-20 September, 470 Men and 470 Women
15-21 September, 49er, 49erFX, Finn and Nacra 17

Live Blog – A live blog will follow the ISAF Worlds from Thursday 11 September through to Sunday 21 September. The live blog is available here http://www.sailing.org/events/isafworlds/live-blog.php

Results are available here.

Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds Event Website
http://www.santander2014.com/
Santander 2014 ISAF Microsite
http://www.sailing.org/2014-ISAF-Worlds.php