Long day and tricky conditions in Palma

9th April 2009

It was another long day in Palma yesterday where four Irish boats - all from the North – are competing. Debbie Hanna and Tiffany Brien in the Radial, Ryan Seaton and James Espey in the Laser. The wind expected from the South West, came from the opposite direction in the morning. The race committee had to wait until mid-afternoon, while the sea breeze progressively lowered and changed for a North-Easterly, to start racing. The Irish girls are in 35th and 38th, the boys in 37th and 67th. With big clouds over the bay, the pressure was uneven on the race course and made racing very tricky. These conditions produced new heat winners in most classes, reducing the lead of most favourites or producing new ones.

In the 49er, class newcomers Tobias Schadewaldt and Hannes Baumann (GER) took the first two races out of the four sailed in the Gold fleet to gain five places in 12th position in the overall ranking. With two second places today, John Pink and Rick Peacock (GBR) got to one point from the Sibello (ITA) brothers who have managed to hold a narrow lead after winning the last race.

The only race sailed in the Laser Gold gave the bullet to Nick Thompson (GBR). Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) discards his 14 points score to keep a four points advantage on Thompson. This is the first time the 22 years old Croat competes in the Princesa Sofia Mapfre Trophy.

In the 470 class, Beijing Bronze medallist in the 470, Nicolas Charbonnier with new crew Baptiste Meyer (FRA) are holding their top position by one point after a mixed day. “The conditions were difficult today with shifts and different pressure on the course. We had a bad start in the first race.” The Princesa Sofia Mapfre Trophy marks the sailing debut of Charbonnier and Meyer as a team. Meyer was one of Charbonnier’s coach leading to the Olympics and had not competed in a dinghy for the last 12 years! “We are working on our speed, and are racing conservatively. We are very efficient under 15 knots so the conditions to date in Palma have suited us.”, says Meyer.

A race win brings the Swedish team of Anton Dahlberg and Sebastian Ostling from 8th to 3rd overall, but the day’s best improvers are Mantis Panagiotis and Pavlos Kagialis from Greece who climb from 34th to 5th after discarding a disqualification and winning the last race!

Rafa Trujillo (ESP) continues on his winning streak adding a second victory to his score. The Skandia GBR British, led by Ed Wright placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the only race sailed in the Finn class.

In the Laser radial, Paige Railey and Anna Tunnicliffe are still holding the top two positions, with Tunnicliffe claiming today’s only race.

Thierry Schmitter (NED) continues to dominate the 2.4m fleet with two victories added to his top three scores.

The different weather conditions provided the event with new leaders.

Flavia Flavigni (ITA) claims the 5th race in the RS:X women fleet and conserves her third place overall, behind the Spanish Marina Alabau and Bianca Manchon who takes the lead from her team mate. In the Men division, a second followed by a victory brings Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) in top position, six points ahead of early leader Fabian Heidegger (ITA).

Ingrid Petitjean and Nadège Douroux (FRA) are now in first overall after winning the day’s first race and placing 5th in the following. Early leaders, Sylvia Vogl and Carolina Flatscher (AUT) lose two places to third after scoring a 10th and a 14th. Second place goes to Spanish team of Tara Pacheco and Berta Betanzos.

The Star class didn’t race today.

Competitors said:

Helena Lucas (GBR), 2.4m

“I really like the venue – the event so far has been really good and we’re very impressed with the Race Committee. They’ve been pretty punchy at getting the races off and seem to be well organised.

I think it’s great to be part of the World Cup Series and being included like one of the other Olympic Classes.

Being the first year after the Games, in terms of the foreign teams turning up it’s a little bit low on numbers, but hopefully next year there will be some more of the foreign teams. I can definitely see numbers up next year.”

Darren Bundock (AUS), 49er

“I am disappointed of course that I am not racing in the Tornado but I am also enjoying the change.” The Princesa Sofia Mapfre trophy will be the first event for Bundock, not only on a 49er, but on a monohull! “Of course, it will take me time to get used to the boat, especially the boat handling, but at least now I can finally get around the course!”

The situation is probably also a big change for Bundock’s crew and current World Champion, Ben Austin. “He is very patient”, admit Bundock, “He is also saving many capsizes. I might be getting better because he doesn’t look so scared!” The Australians will have a busy programme with most of the next ISAF World Cups events and the Worlds on Lake Garda scheduled this year. They racing debut together took off on a bad start after being disqualified from the first 3 races for using the “forbidden” Olympic spinnaker.

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

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