Perfect Conditions On Third Day Of Delta Lloyd Regatta

A weak to moderate breeze from the northeast along with sunshine provided excellent sailing conditions for the third day of the Delta Lloyd Regatta at Medemblik, event five of the 2008-09 ISAF Sailing World Cup.

It was a competitive third day in Medemblik with the wind shifting a lot, as it had on Friday, making for challenging sailing conditions. The competition is always good in these conditions creating a window of opportunity for teams to move to the front of the fleet.

In both of today’s Star races Robert SCHEIDT and Bruno PRADA (BRA) along with Mark MENDELBLATT and Mark STRUBE (USA) were among the few boats that broke away from the fleet and battled for the gun at the finish line. During the first race, both teams catapulted to the top of the fleet by patiently playing the left side of the course down the first leg. Two-time Star World Champion, Fredrik LOOF (SWE), sailing with Johan TILLANDER (SWE), slipped in between them to take second place in the first race. By the bottom of the first leg of the second race, the Americans and the Brazilians were catapulted to the front of the fleet and battled it out to the bitter end. The second race went to the Americans by a boat length. After five races, the 2007 World Champions and Beijing Olympic silver medallists SCHEIDT and PRADA are leading overall with seven points. Alexander SCHLONSKI and Frithjof KLEEN (GER), one of the young German teams, are in second overall with 12 points, and Americans MENDELBLATT and STRUBE are one point behind with 13 points.

South America also leads in the Men’s 470 fleet, as the Argentinean team of Lucas CALABRESE and Juan DE LA FUENTE, took the from Steven LE FEVRE and Steven KROL of The Netherlands. Both teams sailed very consistently, but CALABRESE and LAFUENTE just had slightly better boat speed than LE FEVRE and KROL. The gap continues to grow for from second to third place for Sven COSTER and Kalle COSTER in the eighth race as they took 12th place. They are now five points behind LE FEVRE and KROL and the Frenchmen, Pierre LEBOUCHER and Vincent GAROS, are breathing down their necks, just two points behind.

In the Women’s 470 fleet, the Japanese team of Ai KONDO and Wakako TABATA took the lead today with an overall score of 13 points. Tara PACHECO and Berta BETANZOS of Spain hold a close second place with 17 points followed by the Italian team of Giulia CONTI and Giovanna MICOL, a point behind in third place.

For the Laser Radial competitors there was a chance to hit the front as yesterday’s leader slipped up. Sari MULTALA of Finland fell to 22nd place from first due to three black flag starts today. Alberte LINDBERG of Denmark takes the lead with 57 points followed by Veronika FENCLOVA of Czechoslovakia with 66 points and Paige RAILEY of the United States holding third with 73 points.

Amongst the Finns it was another great day for Great Britain’s Giles SCOTTwith a 1,3,2,3,10 for a total of nine points and strong lead in first place. Following in second place is another British sailor, Andrew MILLS with 16 points. Making up the podium in third place and tied with 16 points is Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPIC of Croatia. 

Casper BOUMAN of the Netherlands still holds a strong lead in the Men’s RS:X windsurfer fleet as he finished with an eight-point total today. He is closely followed by Piotr MYSZKA of Poland with 10 points and another Dutchman, Dorian VAN RIJSSELBERGE with 11 points.

The French team of Morgan LAGRAVIERE and Yann ROCHERIEUX hold a strong lead after today’s 49er race with 39 points. They are followed in second place by Great Britain’s John PINK and Rick PEACOCK with 43 points and close behind in third place is Australia’s Nathan OUTTERIDGE and Iain JENSEN with 44 points.

The Dutch are still holding strong in first and second place amongst the 2.4mR Paralympic competitors. Thierry SCHMITTER sits in first with seven points while André RADEMAKER is in second with 10 points. Megan PASCOE of Great Britain brings up third with 13 points.

The weather has improved greatly and the sun is forecast to shine for the rest of the weekend with the wind picking up on Saturday. Another great day at the Delta Lloyd Regatta!

ISAF Sailing World Cup

The ISAF Sailing World Cup 2008-2009 consists of the following events:

16-21 Dec 2008 – Sail Melbourne The Asia Pacific Regatta, Melbourne, Australia
25-31 Jan 2009 – Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA
4-10 April 2009 – Trofeo SAR Princess Sofia MAPFRE, Palma, Spain
18-24 April 2009 – Semaine Olympique Francaise, Hyeres, France
27-31 May 2009 – Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, Netherlands
20-29 June 2009 – Kieler Woche, Kiel, Germany
14-19 Sept 2009 – Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta, Weymouth, Great Britain

Find out more about the ISAF Sailing World Cup, including more on the seven events, the latest World Cup Standings, the scoring system and the Notice of Series at www.sailing.org/isafsailingworldcup.