SOF Hyeres Regatta after day two
Andrew Murdoch was the best performer of the kiwis on day two of the ISAF Grade one French Olympic Sailing Week on in Hyeres this week. The kiwi from Kerikeri retains third place in the Laser fleet.
Jo Aleh had a solid day in the Laser Radial as did Carl Evans and Peter Burling in the 470 Men’s though Dan Slater in the Finn had one he’d rather forget. The Tornado crew of McIntosh and Kennedy improved in the overall standings.
After an overnight deluge of rain the clouds evaporated and the sun appeared providing the Olympic class sailors with a moderate breeze for racing.
“After 15 hours of heavy rain last night the wind turned 180 degrees to an offshore direction and the sky cleared to be a really nice day,” explains Dan Slater. “The breeze built to 15-20 knots with some really big shifts throughout the day.”
LASER: Andrew Murdoch remains third overall in the standings after day two in Hyeres. He was 6th in race three and then came away with a win in race four putting him just one point adrift of Michael Leigh of Canada in second place. Great Britain’s Nick Thompson leapt into the top spot overnight with two bullets in last night’s racing. Tom Slingsby of Australia also had two wins last night, but is down the standings in 29th place due to an OCS on day one.
FINN: Dan Slater, by his own admission had a day that he would rather forget slipping in the standings to 8th overall in the 56 strong Finn fleet.
Describing race three Slater says, “I got it all wrong at the pin end of the line and on the left hand side of the course. From there I played catch up after rounding the top mark with only about 10-12 boats behind me. Throughout the race I climbed back to 15th, which wasn’t that good but at least I had passed 25 boats in what was a short course.”
Slater was 19th in race four and says, “These weren’t really the results I was after today.”
“The positive out of the last two days has been my speed in the heavy air conditions. I have been really fast and if the jockey can sort himself out it will all be good. Tomorrow they are forecasting 25-35 knots so we will wait and see in the morning to see if we will race or not.”
470 MEN: Carl Evans and Peter Burling fell from 5th to 7th overall after racing last night disappointed they slipped up with a handling error or two which otherwise could have seen them do better. The pair was 10th in race three and 7th in race four and will come away from the day knowing they can do better once they eliminate the minor hiccups.
Despite this, to see the pair of 17 years olds who have been in the 470 for little more than a year, footing it with the best in this highly competitive Olympic class is pretty impressive.
LASER RADIAL: Jo Aleh has taken a decent leap up the leader board overnight in the Laser Radial fleet with two solid races in the moderate to strong conditions. 7th in race three and then 4th in race four Aleh is fighting back from a black flag on day one and moved from 41st up to now lie 26th overall.
TORNADO: McIntosh and Kennedy also improved their overall standing overnight in the Tornado fleet. Recording a 9th and a 12th in last night’s racing the kiwi pair are now mid fleet in the 21 boat fleet lying 11th.
With winds predicted to reach 35 knots in Hyeres over the next day or so, sailors will have to wait to see what the day brings and whether racing on day three of this six day event will be possible.
French Olympic Sailing Week (Semaine Olympique Francaise)
New Zealand’s standings after day two
Finn (55 boats)
Dan Slater – 8th
Laser (149 boats)
Andrew Murdoch – 3rd
470 Men (73 boats)
Carl Evans & Peter Burling – 7th
Laser Radial (78 boats)
Jo Aleh – 26th
Tornado (21 boats)
Aaron McIntosh & Mark Kennedy – 11th
RS:X Women (59 boards)
Steffanie Williams – 24th
Kate Ellingham – 29th
RS:X Men (92 boards)
Mike Kilduff – 74th