Friday, July 21, 2017
Optimist - World Championship 2017 - Pattaya THA - Final results - Gold for Marco Gradoni ITA and Maria Perello ESP
Not enough wind on the final day of the 2017 Optimist World Championship in Pattaya THA and Marco Gradoni ITA is the new World Champion. Muhammad Fauzi Bin Kaman Shah MAS (Malaysia) earned Silver after his Bronze Medal of last year. Bronze went to Costa Rica with Mic Sig Kos Mohr CRC. The best girl was Maria Perello ESP, age 12 only, on rank 23, Palika Poonpat THA 35th took Silver and Charlotte Leigh USA 42nd Bronze. 281 Optimists from 62 nations participated. The ranking list.
After the Team Racing victory, USA is also the winner of the Nations Rankings of the individual Championship fleetrace ahead of China and Thailand with Silver and Bronze.
The final report.
A passing rain front with winds above 30 kn inhibited racing yesterday at the Laser 4.7 World Championship in Belgium, and the rankings after the two races of the opening day remains unchanged. 
The 2017 Contender World Championship in Sonderborg SWE continued yesterday with 3 races sailed in a fresh wind. Before the last races today, it has been decided that the title will go to Australia, either to Jason Beebe AUS or Mark Bulka AUS 2 points behind. The 3rd Jesper Nielsen DEN is 44 points back. Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI, best woman and best Swiss, had her best day and moved up on rank 66 among the 105 participants. 
After the road transfer from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, a lay day in Roses ESP was on the program yesterday. Today, the crucial phase of the Tour de France with another four Acts (Roses ESP, Grau du Roi Port Camargue, Marseille and Nizza) will begin with the Coastal Race at the Spanish venue. The 
Lay day in the Netherlands at the Yngling World Championship yesterday. Today and tomorrow, the crucial races will be held, but the outcome is already quite clear, as the leading Tom Otte NED and his team have a 31 points' advantage on the second-ranked Thomas Schutt GER. Lucas Lier DEN follows on rank 3. 
The Techno293+ World Championship in Quiberon FRA was concluded yesterday, and for the first time, the Youth boat was equipped with the larger rig and sail as to be used in the 2018 Youth Olympics. The 2017 Worlds were the first nations qualification event for the Youth Games with the first six nations by gender earning a nations' slot. 
The Optimist World Championship in Pattaya THA continued yesterday with three races sailed in a moderate 8 to 10 kn breeze. 
Yesterday, the Tour de France fleet was relocated on the road from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea, where Act 6 will begin tomorrow in Roses ESP. The event website contains a first summary of the organisers on the much animated 
Good conditions prevailed on the first day of the Laser 4.7 World Championship in Niewpoort, and both fleets completed two races each. 
The 105 Contenders sailed another race yesterday in Denmark and a leader change happened. Finishing on rank 2, Jason Beebe AUS has taken the overall lead 2 points ahead of Mark Bulka AUS and Jesper Nielsen DEN at equal points. The best of the 7 women sailing (and best Swiss), Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI, is now on the 82nd place.
Another four races were held on the third day of the Yngling Worlds in the Netherlands. 
Three races were held at the F16 Europeans on Lake Geneva for the 34 teams. Emanuel Le Chapelier/Eric Le Bouëdec FRA lead 8 points ahead of Alec/Stijn Van Daele BEL. Thomas and Eric Proust FRA follow on rank 3. 
The Techno 293 Worlds continued yesterday with three races per fleet in freshening winds of up to 20 kn.
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The 281 participants of the Optimist Worlds in Thailand waited in vain for the breeze yesterday. After a thunderstorm at noon, the wind disappeared and racing had to be cancelled. Here the 
The best 16 nation teams sailed yesterday the Final of the Team Race Championship. In a thight last duel, the USA defeated China, while Malaysia earned the Bronze-Medal. The 
Act 5 of the TdF 2017 continued yesterday in Les Sables d'Olonne with the 30 nm coastal race. After their failures in the 4th Act, 'SFS' of Sofian Bouvet FRA came strongly back winning the race with a big advantage. The leader 'Trésors de Tahiti' of Teva Plichart TAH finished 2nd and defeated the overall first place. 'Team Occitanie', new with the Nacra-17 Worldchampion Billy Besson FRA, in rank 3. Bernard Stamm SUI and his 'Cheminées Poujoulat' finished 11th moving up on rank 7 overall. Victor Casas SUI ('CER 2') was forced to abandon the race and descended on rank 20. Nelson Mettraux SUI ('CER 2') follows on rank 22. 
The 2017 Contender World Championship began in Sonderborg yesterday with two races. Mark Bulka AUS is the first leader ahead of Jason Beebe AUS and Jesper Nielsen DEN. Jacqueline Rüfenacht SUI, best Swiss and best-ranked woman, follows on the 66 place among 105 participants from 8 nations.
The 2017 Yngling World Championship began on the Sneeker-Meer North of the Ijssel-Meer yesterday with 4 races. Tom Otte NED and his team won three and are already the clear leaders ahead of Lucas Lier DEN on rank 2, Thorsten Schütt GER is 3rd. Christian Bichsel SUI and his team had a good first day and winning the last race, they are 6th among the 38 teams from 6 nations. 
Last week, the 2017 Soling European Championship was held on Lake Garda. After four sunny days and 9 races, Farkas/ Vezer/Csaba HUN grasped the title with a 12 points' lead on Felzmann/ Felzmann/Schuh AUT. Bronze went to Yuskho/Pichugin/Severianov UKR. 37 teams from 12 nations participated.
The new Beach-Catamaran 24 hours' record, established over the past weekend by Simon Koster/Yo Wiebel SUI, is at 361 nm. A 
Round 4 of the Longtze Annual Championship was sailed on Lake Constance over the past weekend as part of the 'Schatz-Kästle' Regatta. Three races were completed on Saturday. Sunday, the wind was gone an the only start had to be abandoned.
The first round of the Optimist Team Race Championship was on the program yesterday, the traditional event after the individual Championship's halftime. Singapore, France, Sweden, Malaysia, Germany, China, Korea, Ireland from 
Light and unconstant winds with - again - a very strong tide current prevailed in Crouesty yesterday during the short races of Act 4 of the TdF. 'Trésors de Tahiti' with Teva Plichart TAH finished first in the Final of the best 8 and were - after their rank 2 in the coastal race - the clear winners of Act 4, taking the overall lead of the Tour. Bad lack however for the previously dominating first 'SRS' with Sofian Bouvet FRA, penalized after a premature start and taking 9 demerits as their anchor was 2 kg too light, relegating them on rank 2 with a 5 points' backlog .... and the Tour restarts. Change also on rank 3 where 'Team Oman' with Thierry Douillard FRA replaced Damien Séguin FRA with his 'Fondation FDJ' on the podium.
A rain front with wind speeds of up to 40 kn inhibited racing on the final day of the inaugural M32 catamaran World Championship in Marstrand SWE. Phil Robertson NZL and his team were the clear winner ahead of Jonas Warrer DEN and Chris Steele NZL. 15 teams racing.
Excellent conditions prevailed during the Finn French National Championship in La Rochelle with a 12-22 kn seabreeze, down to 5 kn only on the final day. The title was won by Guillaume Boisard FRA ahead of Lorent Hay FRA and Eliot Merceron SUI. 53 participants from 10 nations. 
The Farr40 World Championship was concluded on Sardinia yesterday with four races sailed in a perfect 16-20 kn breeze. Nothing changed on the podium: Alex Roepers USA (tactics Terry Hutchinson USA) defended his title successfully ahead of Alberto Rossi ITA (Vasco Vascotto ITA) who reduced the backlog on 3 points during the final races. Helmut Jahn USA and his team followed on rank 3. 
Top Lake Garda conditions prevailed over the past weekend at the Esse850 Eurocup Regatta. Winning 8 of the 9 races, Alain Marchand SUI and his team were the dominators ahead of Robert Hartmann SUI and Daniel Schroff SUI. 18 teams from 5 nations participated.
The 470 World Championship 2017 in Thessaloniki GRE ended yesterday with the Medal Races. 
The qualifications for the Gold-, Silver-, Bronze- and Emarald Fleets ended yesterday with another two races. 
The TdF continued yesterday in Crouesty/Southern Brittany with the 35 nm coastal race of Act 4. A moderate seabreeze around 12 kn together with a tricky tide current made racing difficult, and the local teams had a clear advantage being familiar with the conditions. 
No changes on the podium occurred after the two last races of the Melges 20 European Championship. Igor Rytov RUS and his team defended the lead just one point ahead of Alexander Novoselov RUS and Alessandro Rombelli ITA, earning Silver and Bronze. 
The PWA Wave Worldcup event on Gran Canaria was concluded yesterday in a fresh up to 40 kn breeze with the Double Elimination Final. On their home waters, the never-ending duel between the Moreno twins continued, and it was again Daida who had the upperhand on Iballa. Lisa Erpstein GER followed on 3rd, her first Worldcup podium. In the men's category, Philipp Köster GER defeated the reigning Worldchampion Victor Fernandez ESP. 
With the ranks 1 and 2 in the last races of the F18 World Championship in Denmark, Mischa Heemskerk/Stephan Dekker NED confirmed their superiority winning with a 19 points' advantage of Demesmaeker/Tas BEL on 2nd. Van Dijk/De Ward NED won one of the races and moved up on the 3rd place overall. 124 teams from 17 nations.
The M32 catamaran World Championship 2017 continued in Marstrand SWE yesterday in a 10-12 kn wind with 5 races. Phil Robertson NZL and his team extended their lead in the overall ranking to 8 points. Jonas Warrer DEN and Chris Steele NZL defended their 2nd and 3rd place. 
Four races were held yesterday in a moderate 8 to 12 k breeze at the Farr-40 World Championship on Sardinia ITA. 'Plenty' of Alex Roepers USA with Terry Hutchinson USA as tactician extended their overall lead with the day ranks 1/2/1/2 and their advantage on the famous architect Helmut Jahn USA (tactics Morgan Reeser USA) is 12 points before the last races today. 
12-14 kn, the freshest breeze so far at the 470 Worlds in Thessaloniki GRE, was blowing during the last three qualification races for the Medal Races of today. 
A fresh 16 to 18 kn breeze prevailed on day two of the Optimist World Championship 2017 in Pattaya THA, and at the end of the day, the kids rushed downwind ashore in a thunderstorm. The two races of the day changed the ranking lists substantially. 
The short races of Act 3 were held yesterday in a 15 kn breeze. The winner of the coastal race 'Lorina Limonade' with Quentin Delapierre FRA did win the short races as well and moved up on rank 7 overall. The top rankings remained unchanged with 'SRS' of Sofian Bouvet FRA as first ahead of 'Fondation FDJ' with Damien Séguin FRA and 'Trésors de Tahiti' with Teva Plichart TAH. 
No change on top of the rankings in the two last races of the J/80 Worlds. The defending champion Rayco Tabares ESP finished twice as second and consolidated his first position ahead of Eric Brezellec FRA 18 points behind. Thanks to two race wins, Simon Moriceau FRA and his team earned the Bronze Medal. 47 teams from 8 nations participated.
Suboptimal conditions prevailed yesterday on Gran Canaria, but at least, a short weather window allowed to continue with the Double Elimination. Today, final day of the event, Daida Moreno ESP, Iballa Moreno ESP, Lina Erpenstein GER and Justyna Sniady POL will fight for the women's victory. In the men's, Philip Köster GER, Victor Fernandez ESP, Thomas Traversa FRA, Ricardo Campello VEN and Marcilio Browne BRA meet in today's final.
The Melges20 European Championship in Sibenik CRO continued yesterday with two more races. Igor Rytov RUS and his team extended their lead with the day ranks 2 and 6 on 6 points, and most likely, they will celebrate their Champion's title after today's final races. Thanks to the discard, Alexander Novoselov RUS climbed on rank 2 again. Alessandro Rombelli ITA follows as 3rd. 
Phil Robertson NZL and his team - winner of the WMRT matchrace at the same venue a week ago - climbed on top of the interim's rankings with the day ranks 3/5/4/1. Jonas Warrer DEN, former 49er World Champions, follows on rank 2 with a 5 points' backlog. Chris Steele NZL is now 3rd.
Mischa Heemskerk/Stephan Dekker NED realised three bullets yesterday and jumped on top of the overall rankings. But their advantage on the second-ranked Demesmaeker/Tas BEL is only 2 points, and even the two-times Olympic medalist Mitch Booth ESP with his son Ruben Booth ESP 12 points back has theoretical chances for the title. 
After the cancelled races on Thursday, opening day of the Farr 40 World Championship on Sardinia ITA, race one was started yesterday in the late afternoon in a still fresh up to 25 kn wind, causing minor equipment failures and weird manoeuvres of some of the owner-steered boats. At the end of the race, the defending champion Alex Roepers USA with Terry Hutchinson USA as tactician was first ahead of Alberto Rossi/Vasco Vascotto ITA on rank 2.
Yesterday, the seabreeze filled in only late and very light at the 470 World Championship in Greece, allowing to sail just one race.
Two races were sailed yesterday on day one of the 2017 Optimist World Championship in Pattaya THA. The record-size 281 boats' fleet from 61 nations is split in four Groups. 
Act 3 of the 2017 TdF began yesterday with the Coastal Race off Jullouville FRA. 'Team Lorina Limonade' with Quentin Delapierre FRA finished first. No change on top of the overall rankings with 'Team SFS' of Sofian Bouvet FRA 20 points ahead of 'Trésors de Tahiti' with Teva Plichard. Damien Seguin FRA with his 'Fondation FDJ' follows on rank 3. 
The 2017 Laser Radial Youth European Championship was concluded yesterday with two more races. 
Three races were completed on day two of the Melges 20 European Championship at the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. Position changes on top with Igor Rytov RUS as first ahead of Alessandro Rombelli ITA (with Francesco Bruni ITA) at equal points. The podium is completed by Kalomeni Orel MON (with Sebastien Col)
Three more races were completed yesterday on the Solent at the J/80 World Championship in Cowes GBR.
Yesterday, racing continued at the F18-Worlds with the first Final races of the Gold- and Silverfleets. Three races were held in a moderate wind.
After the World Match Race Tour Marstrand event, the M32 catamarans remained at the same venue for their World Championship. With 15 cats on the starting line, this is the largest M32 fleet sailing together so far. After three races, Chris Steele NZL and Pieter-Jan Postma NED share the lead ahead of Jonas Warrer DEN on rank 3. 
The seabreeze on Gran Canaria filled again in only very late in the day, and the Wave professionals had another unplanned day ashore. However, the youth wave athletes - age groups 14 to 18 years, and U14 - continued their competition. 
Light winds between 6 and 8 kn prevailed yesterday in Thessaloniki during the first two Final races s sailed in Gold- and Silverfleets.
The Laser Radial Youth European Championship 2017 in Gdynia POL was opened last Monday, and yesterday after five qualification races, the Final Series of the Gold- Silver- and Bronzefleets began in the 180 boats' Boys category. The 65 Girls sail in one fleet.
Lay day yesterday after the first two Acts in Dunkerque and Fécamp, allowing the teams to dislocate without stress to Jullouville, where Act 3 will begin today again with a coastal race. First in the 
The points' gaps between the leading three teams were such, that no position changes occurred in the last races of the Europe Class World Chapionship in Blanes/Costa Brava ESP. 
Only moderate winds prevailed yesterday on Gran Canaria, not enough to continue the Wave contest for the PWA professionals. However, a competition for development wave athletes has been on the program for the first time.
Three races were completed again on day two of the F18 Worlds in Denmark. Finishing 1/3/3, the new leaders are Philip Hendrickx/Filip Olyslager BEL ahead of Helge and Christian Sach GER new on 2nd and Mitch and Ruben Booth ESP on 3rd. 
Nine races have been held at the J/80-Worlds in Cowes up to now, and the defending Champion Rayco Tabares ESP and his team have a 30 points' advantage on the Olympic medalist Luke Patience GBR. Eric Breizellet FRA is on rank 3. 48 teams from 9 nations participate.
Light winds prevailed on the first day of the Melges-20 European Championship in Croatia. Alexander Novoselov RUS and his team confirmed his role as favorite winning the first race. Orel Kalomeni MON (tactics Sébastien Col FRA) follows on rank 2, Igor Rytov RUS is 3rd. 
The Lake Garda Foiling Week was terminated in Malcesine on last Tuesday. In addition to speeches, discussions and trials on new prototypes, races were on the program as well. 
The Qualification Series were concluded yesterday with two races. The best 36 men's teams qualify for the Goldfleet, in the women's, the cut is at position 30. 
The 49th Transpac Race will be remembered as the year of the records as both the outright multihull and monohull times for the 2225 nm course from Los Angles to Honolulu have been officially eclipsed.
After the coastal race, the short-races were on the program in Fécamp FRA yesterday. Five qualification races were held before the 8 best sailed the final heat.
The Europe Class World Championship in Blanes ESP at the Costa Brava will be concluded today, but the positions on top seem to be firm and not to many changes might happen in the last race.
Top conditions on Gran Canaria yesterday on the third day of the PWA Wave Worldcup mit winds above 30 kn, allowing to start to the Double-Elimination. The best drivers did not yet enter this part of the competition. Among the winners of the day was Moritz Mauch GER, loosing none of his duels.
The F18 catamaran World Championship 2017 began in Denmark yesterday with three races. The 128 boats' fleet is split in two groups. The first leaders are Daniel and Nicolaj Bjornholt DEN, 2 points ahead of Mitch Booth/Ruben Booth ESP and also on rank 3 is a successful Tornado team with Paschalidis/Trigonis GRE. 
The 470 World Championship in Thesssalonik GRE began yesterday in hot temperatures and an 8-10 kn seabreeze with three races.
After the light-wind regattas of Act 1 in Dunkerque, a fresh up to 20 kn breeze welcomed the fleet yesterday during the first race of Act 2 in Fécamp FRA. A coastal race was on the program, won surprisingly by the development team 'Lorima-Mojito' of Solune Robert FRA, bringing them on rank 8 overall. On the 2nd position yesterday was 'SRS' of Sofian Bouvet FRA, who extended his overall lead. . 'Fondation FSJ' of Damien Séguin FRA defended rank 2 as did 'Trésors de Tahiti' of Teva Plichard FRA on rank 3. Bernard Stamm SUI with his 'Cheminées Poujoulat' finished as 5th and advanced on rank 6 overall. The two CER Geneva team follow on the ranks 17 (Victor Casas SUI) and 19 (Nelson Mettraux SUI). 
Two races per fleet were sailed again on the third day of the Europe Class World Championship without position changes in the top ranks.
40 kn and and big waves did set a perfect stage for the first day of the PWA Wave Worldcup on Gran Canaria. In the women's, the Moreno twins ESP duelled as expected for rank 1, and it was Daida who had the upper hand on Iballa. The duel for rank 3 ended in favor of Lina Erpenstein GER who defeated Sara-Quita Offringa NED (Aruba) realising her best result of her career ever. In the men's Philipp Köster GER defeated Victor Fernandez ESP in the Final. 
Leader changes on the second day of the RS:One European Championship in both fleets. Maelle Guibault FRA replaced Farrah Hall USA on top of the women's, Thomas Goyard FRA has taken the lead in the men's ahead of Sebastian Kornum DEN. 
The 470 World Championship 2017 begins today in Thessaloniki GRE, where hot temperatures up to 40° C (104° F) and a moderate seabreeze have been forecast. 
After the show races in Dunkerque of Saturday, racing was resumed yesterday with four short heats for the fleet, split in two groups. The four-best by group qualified for the Final, sailed in one race. The winner of Friday's coastal race, 'SFS' with Sofian Bouvet FRA, was again first ahead of the Paralympic Champion Damien Séguin FRA who advanced on the 2nd overall rank as well, at equal points with 'Trésor Tahiti' with Teva Plichart FRA. 
Calms over Warnemünde GER kept the boats ashore on the last day of the 5o5 World Championship 2017. Jacob (age 61) and his cousin Jörgen (age 63) Bojsen-Möller DEN, two-times Olympic FD-medalists (88 and 92) and eldest team in the fleet were crowned World Champions. Silver went to Nathan Batchelor/Sam Pascoe GBR 8 points behind. Lutz Stengel/Frank Feller GER followed on the 3rd place. 98 teams from 13 nations and 4 continents participated.
Yesterday was trial day at the Lake Garda Foiling Week and everybody interested could test his/her capabilties steering i.e. flying the various foiler-boats. Women's instructor was the Olympic Champion Jo Aleh NZL. 
Saturday was the first day of the Europe World Championship, the former Olympia class, at the Costa Brava ESP. Four races have been sailed so far in a moderate seabreeze. 
Yesterday was the first day of the RS:One Convertible European Championship in Penmarc'h FRA in Brittany, the new Foiling-Windsurf-Class launched by the boat-manufacturer RS. Three races were sailed in a 15 kn breeze in a new regatta format. Farah Hall USA has taken the lead in the women's category, Sebastian Kornum DEN is first in the men's ahead of Thomas Goyard FRA and Julien Bontemps FRA. 
In the late afternoon yesterday, Simon Koster/Yo Wiebel SUI with their Foiler-Catamaran concluded their 24 hours' record attempt South of Karlskrona SWE, turning immediately South to head for the Polish coast near Gdansk POL, where they arrived during this night. Apparently, they have not yet found an Internet connection to reveal, whether they have been successful to improve 246 nm record of Yvan Bourgnon SUI. The information will certainly be posted on the 
