Friday, September 22, 2017
Windsurfing - RS:X World Championship 2017 - Enoshima JPN - Day 5
After the lay day, the first Final Series Gold- and Silverfleet races were on the program yesterday. Light winds challenged the drivers physically with ongoing pumping efforts. The light-weighted Chinese athletes dominated in the men's and women's fleets. As best of the day, Ye CHN has taken the lead in the RS:X men, 3 pts ahead of Mengfan Gao CHN on 2nd. Mateo Sanz-Lanz SUI is now on rank 3 with a 7 pts backlog on the leader and still chances for Gold or Silver. The big-breeze specialists however had a hard day. The two-times Olympic Champion Dorian Van Rijsselberge NED on rank 11 has to fight to make the Medal Race cut, as does Pawel Tarnowski POL (rank 12), Piotr Myszka POL (13th) or Kieran Badloe NED (14th). Today, three more races are on the program. The Medal Race will be tomorrow Saturday..
Leader change also in the RS:X women, where Jiahui Wu CHN replaced Peina Chen CHN on top, separated by 0,7 pts only. Zofia Noceti-Klepacka POL follows 5 pts back on rank 3.
The daily news with link to all ranking lists and the videos.
Two more races were sailed on the spare day of the 6 Meter Worlds in Vancouver CAN to complete the program as scheduled with 8 races. 
Two races were sailed at the TP52 Super Series on Menorca ESP yesterday. 'Quantum' of Doug Devos USA was the best of the day with the ranks 2/2, and moved up on the 3rd place overall. 'Azzurra' of the Roemers ITQ/ARG with Vasco Vascotto ITA remains on top but the advantage on the tied duo 'Platoon' (Harm Müller-Spreer GER/John Kostecki USA) and 'Quantum' has melted to one point. 
Today begins the European Sailing Champions League 2017 Final on Sardinia. 
Lay day in Enoshima JPN yesterday before the RS:X World Championship Final Series Gold- and Silverfleet races beginning today. 
The 6 Meter Worlds in Vancouver CAN continued yesterday with two races in an up to 20 kn wind. 
The very light wind allowed only one race at the TP52 Super Series on Menorca ESP, and the winner was 'Bronenosec' with Vladimir Liubomirov RUS and Morgan Larson USA as tactician. Overall first remains 'Azzurra' of the Roemers' family ITA/ARG with Francesco Bruni ITA calling the shots, but Tom Langley GBR with his 'Gladiator' closed the gap on the leading Italians. Harm Müller Spreer GER (John Kostecki USA) follows with his 'Platoon' on rank 3.
Yesterday, the second thunderstorm of the week at the Laser World Championships passing over Split CRO held the fleet on shore, destroying the gradient wind. The following light and unstable Eastwind did not allow to start racing on the final day of the event.
Moderate winds prevailed on Tuesday, second day at the RS:X Windsurfer World Championship in Japan. The women sailed three, the men two races. 
A lack of wind cancelled racing yesterday at the 2017 Six Metre World Championships in Vancouver CAN. After 4 of 8 races scheduled, Phillippe Durr SUI leads the Open Division by 3 pts over Andy Beadsworth GBR, while HM Don Juan Carlos de Borbón (ESP) leads the Classic Division by 4 pts ahead of Peter Hofmann USA. 
A complicated, challenging weather situation allowed just one race being sailed on the opening day of the Menorca TP52 Super Series Sailing Week, the crucial final event of the annual championship. The circuit leader 'Azzurra' (Roemers family ARG/ITA) finished first ahead of 'Gladiator' and 'Sled'. and sees them open their overall margin to 8 pts on 'Platoon' (Harm Müller-Spreer GER) and 10 pts on 'Quantum Racing' (Doug DeVos USA). 
The sailing conditions on the second day of the Laser Standard Worlds' Final Series were quite different with a 14-16 kn wind and big waves. The Goldfleet completed three, the Silver- and Bronzefleet two races. 
Both fleets completed two races each on the second day of the 6 mR Worlds in Canada. Philipp Dürr SUI took the sole lead in the Moderns with two second race ranks. New on 2nd overall 3 pts behind is Andy Beadsworth GBR. Brian Mumford CAN is now 3rd. Twice on the 3rd place, 
The Austrian Esse850 Championship was organised over the past weekend on the Mondsee. 9 teams from Germany, Austria and Switzerland participated and the winner after seven races was Robert Hartmann SUI an his team.
The first three Final Series races, the fleets racing on Gold and Silver rounds, were held at the Laser Worlds in Split yesterday in light winds. 
Rain and variable winds prevailed yesterday at the Dutch National Championships jointly held for 15 classes in Medemblik. In the Contender, the only class with Swiss participants, Winfres Westermann NED remains on top, but the best of the day(2/3) Dirk Lafleur NED reduced the backlog on 2 pts. Among the best of the day (3/5) was also Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI, the only woman in the 25 boats' fleet, who advanced on the 12th position overall. 
Jarmo Wieland SUI was the superior winner of the 5th Act of the Longtze Annual Championship, the Alps Cup on Lake Garda. Winning 8 of the 9 races, he and his team (Wieland R., Estermann D. Stebler P.) were clearly on top ahead of Michael Begher GER and Markus Ziltener SUI. The 
The 2017 Six Metre World Championships got underway for 45 teams representing 11 nations that have come to compete in either the Open Division or Classic Division. Two races were completed yesterday, with Phillippe Durr (SUI) and Ben Mumford (CAN) tied for the lead of the Open Division while Peter Hofmann (USA) has a one point lead over HM Don Juan Carlos de Borbón (ESP) in the Classic Division. The 8-race series is being held September 17-20. The 
Perfect conditions with sun and mostly fresh winds around 20 kn prevailed at the Surprise European Championship on St-Tropez Bay FRA during the past days. Once more, the Swiss teams ruled the show with Emanuel Müller YCB and his team winning 5 of the 12 heats, followed by Frank Reinhard SUI and Sebastiano Baranzini SUI. The 
Again three races were completed on the third day of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series on the Ijsselmeer. With the ranks 1/2/1, Robert Bakoczy HUN and his team demonstrated once more their superiority at this event. 
The Laser Standard Worlds in Split CRO continued yesterday with two races sailed in a 20 kn wind. Pavlos Kontides CYP stayed on top of the rankings with another bullet. Three points behind follows the trio Matthew Wearn AUS, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA and Sam Meech NZL. 
Fresh winds around 25 kn made the final day at the J/70 World Championship spectacular. Here the 
After the two races sailed on the opening day in a slackening Northwind, the sun was out yesterday and four races were completed in a 20-25 kn Ora. On top of the rankings, the positions seem to be taken. Jarmo Wieland SYH won all 4 heats and is clearly on rank 1 ahead of Michael Bergher GER, who is just one point in front of Markus Ziltener SUI. 
A 20 kn breeze prevailed also on the last day of the GC32 Racing Tour Act 4 in Corsica FRA. After the last Speed-Contest run - winner - 'Argo' of Jason Caroll USA reaching 21,25 kn - five more races were held. Bad luck for the clearly leading 'Malizia' of Pierre Cashiragi MON, caught at a mark in the 3rd race damaging the rudder forcing her to abandon the competition prematurely. This opened the way to an overall victory for 'Realteam' with Jerôme Clerc SUI, defeating 'Argo' in a close fight by a two points' margin. Two points is the lead off the Swiss also in the overall tour rankings.The final Round of the Tour will be held in October in Marseille FRA. 
In Medemblik, the joint Dutch Championship of 15 classes is taking place, among them the Lasers, Lasers, Finns, 29ers or 49ers. The only class with Swiss participation are the Contenders with Winfred Westermann NED on rank 1 after 6 races, and Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI 14th among the 25 starters. 
The Melges 24 European Sailing Series continued yesterday with three races. Robert Bakoczy HUN defended his lead 3 pts ahead of Ronald Veraar NED on rank 2. Michael Good SUI and Jörg Hotz SUI remained on the ranks 7 and 8. 
The 147 participants at the Laser Worlds had to wait for wind until 15 hrs p.m. UTC to start to the only race of the day in light winds with Pavlos Kontides CYP - winner of all three heats of his Group so far -, Matthew Wearn AUS and Eliott Hanson GBR on ranks 1 in their Groups. In the overall rankings, Kontides CYP leads with a 4 points' advance on Sam Meech NZL. Sergey Komissarov RUS is new on rank 3, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA is now 4th. 
The J/70 Championship in Porto Cervo continued yesterday with the fleet split in Gold- and Silver Rounds. Initially, the Mistral - around 20 kn - stayed on, but during the second race in the afternoon, a light Southwind filled in and the heat had to be abandoned. 
The fresh Mistral delayed the first starts yesterday and only late in the afternoon, two short races and the Speed-Challenge could be held. In a 10 kn wind, the fastest cat was 'Realteam' with an 18,32 kn chrono. Winner of the two races were '.film racing' of Simon Delzoppo AUS (tactics Leigh McMillan GBR) and 'Malizia', steered by the owner Pierre Cashiragi MON (tactics now Sébastien Col FRA). 'Malizia' is the overall leader 14 points ahead of 'Realteam' with Jerôme Clerc SUI on 2nd, who recovered from the bad Thursday with the ranks 2 and 3 yesterday. Today, last day of the event, more short races are on the program.
Yesterday, the second-last Round of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series began in Medemblik in sun an offshore winds around 18 kn. 3 races were completed and all heats were won by Robert Bakoczy HUN 5 4 points ahead of Ronald Veraar NED on rank 2. 
Light and variable winds between 6 and 10 kn prevailed on the first day of the Laser Standard World Championship in Split CRO and the 147 participants' fleet, split in three Groups, sailed 2 races each.
After two days' waiting because of the too strong Mistral, the J/70 World Championship on Sardinia finally begun yesterday with the 147 teams' fleet split in 3 Groups sailing 3 races in a 12-20 kn breeze. Finishing 1/3/1, Peter Duncan USA (tactics Judd Smith USA) took the interim's lead ahead of Claudia Rossi ITA (1/4/1) and Franco Rosserio ITA on 3rd. The best Swiss Alain Stettler SUI is 41st, Mathias Bermejo SUI follows on the 50th and Stefan Seger SUI on the 61st rank. 
Sarah-Quita Offringa NED/Aruba and Antoine Albeau FRA are the winners of the PWA Worldcup Slalom in Hvide Sande DEN. In a chaotic final, Sarah-Quita Offringa secured the overall victory inspite of a disqualification, as her Semifinal Group sailed the wrong course. Leading with rank one in view, Delphine Cousin FRA plunged in her first gybe and Offringa was the premature Slalom World Champion. 
Still in fresh winds around 20 kn, but now on flat water, 5 races were sailed off Corsica yesterday. Sébastien Col FRA steering the Monegasque 'Malizia' won all 5 heats taking the clear overall lead. Jason Carroll USA (with the former 'Alinghi' helmsman Morgan Larson USA steering) follows on 2nd, 'Team Engie' of Sébastien Rogues FRA is 3rd. The Tour leader 'Realteam' with Jerôme Clerc SUI dropped on rank 4.
In stormy winds, even exceeding 35 kn, the German Dragon Championship began on the Ammersee yesterday. Numerous equipment failures reduced the fleet, and one Dragon even sunk within minutes after a duck gybe. Only one race was sailed with Thomas Müller GER as winner ahead of Ingo Ehrlicher GER and Philipp Ocker GER. Only 43 of the 68 participants finished the race. 
After the Practice Race of yesterday, the Laser Standard World Championship in Split CRO will have its first races today. 
A strom depression over Denmark brought rain and an up to 50 kn wind yesterday and the two Eliminations were clearly an affair of the big-breeze specialists. 
Fresh winds partly over 25 kn prevailed yesterday during the first races of the GC32 Racing Tour and spectacle was guaranteed as the big waves entered the normally protected Bay of Calvi to an extent that the swell was big enough to cause the GC32s to disappear occasionally into the troughs. Before racing started Erik Maris’ Zoulou buried her bow into the back of a big wave and capsized. Unfortunately in the incident, two of her crew sustained injuries and were taken to hospital. 
Strong winds have again postponed the start of the 2017 J/70 World Championship. After the Mistral kept the fleet ashore yesterday, the repeat happened today for the 162 entrants that represent 24 countries. The forecast for tomorrow is expected to sufficiently moderate to allow for a 3-races qualification series, with racing to continue on to September 16. The 
In a statement. the America's Cup defender, “Emirates Team New Zealand, informs, that after consulting with a number of potential challengers, there is an overall desire to have a spectacular monohull yacht that will be exciting to match race, but also one that the public and sailors can relate to as a sail boat that really challenges a full crew of professional yachtsman around the race track. Additionally, they intend for the Protocol to contain a “constructed in country” requirement for competing yachts and a nationality requirement for competing crew members. 
The offshore wind blew the big seaweed patches away and the PWA Slalom Worldcup races continued with two more Eliminations. Sarah-Quita Offringa NED (Aruba) and Antoine Albeau FRA won both runs each in a 20-30 kn wind. Offringa NED is herewith the clear leader and with a victory in Denmark, she would become the preliminary 2017 Slalom World Champion. In the men's fleet, Mateo Iacchino ITA is still on rank 1 but Antoine Albeau FRA follows closely behind. 
Racing was postponed yesterday as a strong Mistral exceeding 30 kn kept the yachts in harbour on the first day of the J/70 World Championship on Sardinia. Today, three races are on the program in a wind around 20 kn. 
Last Saturday, the 67th Centomiglia 2017 - the traditional race around the lake - took on a rainy day with overcast skies. The winning Libera 'Clandesteam' with Giulia Conti ITA reached the finish line only after 10 hrs 50 min, and the bulk of the fleet was underway over 15 hours. 
The final ranking lists of the Laser Euromasters in Le Pradet FRA (near Toulon) have been posted in the mean-time. After three races on Friday and no races on a rainy Saturday without wind, the light wind on Sunday allowed to add another two races. 
Round 4 of the foiling GC32 catamaran Racing Tour will begin on Corsica today. Fresh winds around 20 kn have been forecast, but the water will remain flat in the sheltered Calvi Bay, ideal conditions for the GC32 and it may well be that new records will be registered in the speed contest. 
For three days, the PWA Slalom Worldcup has been underway at the Danish West Coast. Inspite of excellent wind conditions (15-20 kn), racing was interrupted yesterday as huge seaweed pads flooded the race course. Up to now, one Elimination has been concluded with Lina Erdil TUR as first ahead of Sarah-Quita Offringa NED (Aruba) in the women and Matteo Iacchino ITA followed by Pierre Mortefon FRA in the men. 
The J-70 World Championship in Porto Cervo began yesterday with a scandal, as seven team were expelled from the Championship because of modifications of the keels of these one-design yachts, among them some favorites. The 
On a rainy weekend, but nevertheless with a good participation, the Untersee-Pokal was held on the Lower Lake Constance off the Reichenau Island. Two races were completed on Saturday, while on Sunday, the wind was absent. 
25 catamarans participated in the International Catamaran Criterium off Morges/Lake Geneva. Winner after 5 races was Andreas Lutz SCRG on an F16 ahead of the A-Cat of Laurent Vez CNM. The 
The Medal Race of the Finn World Championship on the Balaton, sailed in light winds, was much disputed yesterday. Max Salminen SWE saved just one point of his advantage and won his first World Champion's title ahead of Jonathan Lobert FRA. Nicholas Heiner NED finished first in the Medal Race and moved up on rank 3 overall, relegating Ed Wright GBR at equal points on rank 4. 
A high-speed Medal Race decided on the title in the Olympic Nacra 17 catamarans fully foiling
Light winds prevailed on the final day of the Youth Sailing Swiss Championship on the Lago Maggiore allowing to complete two more races.
