Sailors were tested by a northern Rio breeze for the first time at the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta in a testing day for the sailors and officials.
Heading into the day, upon viewing the forecast, many believed the Race Committees would be hard pressed to fit in any racing with 2-6 knots present.
A northern early afternoon breeze enabled the Nacra 17 and RS:X fleets to get some racing in before the breeze slowly turned round to the south.
It was a long day for all of the competitors as they waited for a breeze suitable for racing. The Finn and Nacra 17 fleet completed two whilst the 470s, 49erFX, Laser, Laser Radial and RS:X fleets got one race apiece in. Only the 49ers were unable to get any racing in.
Men’s and Women’s RS:X
Aichen Wang’s (CHN) Olympic gold medal winning coach Tom Ashley (NZL) described his athlete’s performance as, “one of the best I have seen,” after the Chinese sailor opened up a 17 point lead over his Men’s RS:X rivals.
Ashley, who won gold in the Men’s RS:X at Beijing 2008, has guided Wang to five race victories from nine fleet races with the remaining results all in the top five.
The ball is firmly in Wang’s court heading into the Medal Race and Ashley was full of high praise after racing,”He’s been amazing this week. I have rarely seen anyone give such a good performance. All the years that I was sailing and the last couple of years I’ve been watching as a coach, so far, it’s been one of the best performances I have seen. We have still got the Medal Race tomorrow and
Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic waters were packed full of exceptional sailing and athletic talent on Sunday 16 August with all ten Olympic events on show at the Aquece Rio – international Sailing Regatta 2015.
The Men’s and Women’s 470, 49er, 49erFX, Finn and Nacra 17 sailors joined their RS:X and Laser counterparts on the water for an exceptional day of racing. A southern breeze ranging from 6-10 knots was present as all six racing areas were utilised.
Men’s and Women’s 470
The Men’s and Women’s 470 fleets were the first to trial the Pai racing area and it stirred up tight leaderboards in both.
Nine points split the top eight in the men’s fleet with 14 points separating the leading eight in the women’s.
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) lead the way in the men’s and are followed by Stu McNay and Dave Hughes (USA). After racing Hughes commented on the course, “The entire fleet hasn’t done a great deal of training on the course. Historically we have all focused on Niteroi and Copacabana so it was a balance of trying to take the lessons of those two courses and see what was applied and make some adjustments.
“It’s always head out of the boat on those outside courses. We took what we learned from race one and applied it to the second.
“We are really happy with the start of the regatta. You can always look at single races and places to do better, but of course the way forward is to put in a solid day and look forward to the next.”
In the Women’s fleet Shasha Chen and Haiyan Gao (CHN) and Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) share the lead. The conditions suited the teams with light frames and the Chinese and Americans capitalised.
Finn
Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) had a great day in the Finn, picking up a second and a first. The Dutch sailor holds the early advantage and was pleased with how things played out, “I had a very good start and great strategy.
“I tacked off all the way to the right and there was a bit more pressure there and then to the mark, fourth at the top mark and then I caught up to second.
“The last race was quite the same, very good start, very good strategy and super happy I won the race.”
Postma leads Max Salminen (SWE) by four points and Tapio Nirkko (FIN) sits in third. The opening race win went the way of Anders Pedersen (NOR) who is fourth overall.
49er and 49erFX
Uno, due, tre. One, two, three. Um, dois, tres. Whatever the language, the score cannot be faulted as Italy’s Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich came out hard in the 49erFX to set a good benchmark.
An opening race first was backed up with a second and then a third as they took the early lead and Conti was happy her pre-race planning paid off, “We went out with some strategy already as the pattern of the wind looks like it is the same every day and we talked with our coach about what to do.
“We had a clear idea of what to do and we stuck with it and the boat was fast and we sailed well. We had a good day.”
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) are second overall, a point off the Italians, after a 3-1-(15) whilst World #1 and ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) sit third.
A dying afternoon breeze meant that the 49er fleet sailed two out of three scheduled races.
Diego Botin and Iago Lopez (ESP) took the first race win and then a fourth which sees them lead. Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) took the second race win but a 13th in the opening sees them in fifth overall.
The 49er have four races scheduled for 17 August to catch up on the schedule whilst the 49erFX will sail their scheduled three.
Men’s and Women’s RS:X
The Men’s and Women’s RS:X fleets enjoyed another excellent day on the water racing under Sugarloaf Mountain with a beach full of Carioca’s enjoying Rio’s sunshine and the great race action.
Aichen Wang (CHN) continued his good form in the opening race by taking the victory, but it didn’t come easily with a number of his rivals just inches and seconds behind him. On the run to the finish Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) was hot on Wang’s heels. Wang held firm to take the narrowest of wins.
Pierre Le Coq (FRA) also pushed hard throughout the race and was just five seconds behind Wang with Nick Dempsey (GBR), Ricardo Santos (BRA) and Max Oberemko (RUS) coming through seconds later.
The close racing continued and Wang was again, impressive. A second and a fifth, which he discards, hands him a nine point lead going into the RS:X fleets reserve day. Le Coq is in second with Kokkalanis occupying third.
Consistency pays off in sailing; it’s the nature of the game. Across a large number of races in a range of conditions gold medals have been won by sailors who lacked a race win to their score card.
The Women’s RS:X fleet saw exceptional performances from Malgorzata Bialecka (POL) and Blanca Manchon (ESP) who finished in the top eight in all three races. Across the six race series neither sailor counts a bullet but their consistency sees them placed second and third respectively.
France’s Charline Picon had a mixed day with a race win, a second and a discarded 11th. She leads the way by one point over Bialecka.
The star of the show in the Women’s RS:X was Estonia’s Ingrid Puusta who recorded a race win and two thirds to catapult her up the leaderboard. She sits fourth overall.
Nacra 17
The fast paced Nacra 17 fleet were tested outside of Guanabara Bay, racing on the Copacabana course. At the early stages of the competition there is very little to separate the fleet. Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (NZL) are at the top of the tree on four points following double seconds and a discarded 14th.
Race victories went the way of Lin Ea Cenholt and Christian Lubeck (DEN), Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner (GER) and Mandy Mulder and Coen de Koning (NED). The three teams are tied on five points in second place.
Laser and Laser Radial
Croatia’s Tonci Stipanovic was full of smiles after racing in the Laser following a race win and a second. Stipanovic had a mixed opening day with a first and a 14th but bounced back by doing what he know best, sailing hard, sailing fast and at the front of the pack.
After his performance of the day the Croatian holds the leading spot on four points.
Francesco Marrai (ITA) was just as impressive as Stipanovic recording a 2-3 and as a result moves up to second. The days remaining race win went the way of Jesper Stalheim (SWE) who is tenth overall.
Gintare Scheidt (LTU) leads in the Laser Radial after picking up an eighth and a race win but displaying great consistency was Alison Young (GBR), with a 3-3, and Evi Van Acker (BEL) who picked up a 4-4.
For Van Acker, Rio’s challenge is an exciting proposition as the fleet moved outside of Guanabara Bay on the Niteroi course. “Every course here is different,” said Van Acker. “Inside the bay is flat and outside is bigger waves, but this way on different courses the best all round sailor can win it.
“Tomorrow we are on the Pai course which is really far away and I am really excited to race on that with a bigger breeze.”
Racing is scheduled to resume at 13:00 local time on Monday 17 August. The RS:X fleets will enjoy a day off whilst the remaining fleets will resume where they left off today.
The four Olympic events on show on the opening day of the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta faced a light wind test across two racing areas inside Guanabara Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Laser and Laser Radial fleets, racing on the Ponte course, and the Men’s and Women’s RS:X, sailing on Escola Naval, had to contend with a 6-10 knot southerly breeze. Bathed in Rio’s winter sun the competitors were put to the test with those who had done their homework on the light conditions coming to the forefront.
Men’s RS:X
China’s Aichen Wang was fast out of the blocks posting a fifth and double bullets in the Men’s RS:X. The Chinese sailor has an early advantage over Pawel Tarnowski (POL) but with nine more fleet races and the Medal Races remaining, Wang won’t be getting carried away with his good start.
Pierre Le Coq (FRA) finished second at the 2014 test event and started well once again at the 2015 edition. An opening race win backed up by a sixth and a fifth leaves him third overall.
After racing Le Coq said, “I was a bit frustrated in the last race as I was first on the upwind but it was tricky out there with a lot of current. The Chinese sailor managed the current best today and he now leads the fleet.
“I expected to see the Chinese sailor at the front as I have been training with him for the past few weeks and he is on form. I am not surprised.
“I am still in the game and it is not a bad beginning.”
Wang tops the leaderboard on two points followed by Tarnowski on five and Le Coq on six.
Women’s RS:X
The performance of the day in the Women’s RS:X came from Poland’s Malgorzata Bialecka. Whilst she does sit third overall she was the most consistent performer, recording a third and a second and a fourth, which she discards.
Lilian De Geus (NED) also had an impressive day, notching up a 2-(6)-3 and sits in second.
Hei Man Chan (HKG) tops the billing in the Women’s RS:X on four points. However, Chan started her event off with a tenth which she discards. Whilst it’s not a bad score for Chan, she will want to ensure her performances over the coming days replicate the third and first that she ended her day on.
Laser
London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Pavlos Kontides (CYP) and five time Olympic medallist Robert Scheidt (BRA) hold the early advantage in the Laser after a consistent day on the water. The pair are locked on nine points apiece with Kontides sailing his way to a 2-7 and Scheidt, a 6-3.
Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) started the day off with a standout performance that saw him beat Kontides by 17 seconds as he explained, “It was really light conditions. In the first race I had a plan to stay on the right [side of the course] and I was heading first to the right but the guys in the middle had some more pressure so I was sixth by the up mark. Immediately in the downwind I passed two boats, then on the upwind I stuck with my plan to stay right and there was more pressure and I finished first.”
Stipanovic was unable to capitalise on his outstanding start and could only manage a 14th which leaves him fourth overall at the early stage of the competition.
The day’s other race victory went the way of Nick Thompson (GBR) who is fifth overall.
Laser Radial
Marit Bouwmeester (NED) was impressive in the Laser Radial and leads the way on eight points. She opened her day up with a second and followed it up with a sixth.
Veronika Fenclova of the Czech Republic is two points off the Dutch sailor after an 8-2 with Gintare Scheidt (LTU) third on 13 points.
Race victories were picked up by Manami Doi (JPN) who is ninth overall and the fourth placed Paige Railey (USA).
The remaining racing areas on the opening day were filled with the sailors from the other six Olympic events who were fine tuning their preparations for the start of their competition. Racing continues on Sunday 16 August at 13:00 with all ten of the Olympic events taking to the water.
The Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta will act as a dress rehearsal for the Olympic Games with the world’s leading sailors, many of whom will be on the Olympic startline, fine tuning their preparations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
From 15-22 August 339 sailors from 52 nations, racing in the ten Olympic sailing events will put themselves to the test across six race courses, three inside and three outside of Guanabara Bay.
Compared to the test events for other Olympic sports, sailing is unique. A large majority of those competing from 15-22 August will go on to Rio 2016 and in many cases the medallists at the test event will realise their dreams in a year’s time with an Olympic medal around their neck.
Aquece Rio International Sailing Regatta 2015 is the second sailing test event in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. Held out of Marina da Gloria from 15-22 August, the Olympic test event welcomes more than 330 sailors from 52 nations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit Jesus Renedo/Sailing Energy
In the build up to London 2012, 18 medallists in the test event went on to take an Olympic honour, a statistic that could well be repeated and even bettered at Rio 2016.
With a wide array of exceptional sailing talent the stakes are high. A strong result at the test event can build up confidence and leave athletes with a can do attitude.
The 470 events will be spearheaded by Olympic gold medallists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) and Mat Belcher (AUS) sailing with Will Ryan.
Both the Kiwis and Australians took gold at the 2014 test event and are back in the mix, aiming for another good performance on the journey to retain their Olympic titles.
“It’s getting busier and busier out on the water, there are new boats and teams out every day… It’s rather exciting,” commented Aleh.
“At the moment everyone is just training, working on their boats and getting time on the water. But next week when we all start moving to the Marina da Gloria – the Olympic Harbour – things will start to ratchet up a little.”
A week on from Aleh’s comments and Marina da Gloria is a hive of activity. The sailors are in, International Race Officials are arriving and work continues on the marina to ensure it is up to scratch for the Olympic Games.
Whilst the focus is on this week, Belcher, holder of the last five 470 World titles, knows the athletes have their eyes on the ultimate prize within the sport, an Olympic medal, “For all of us, everything, every day we train, every minute and hour, weeks, months, years, it’s all about the Games.
“The regattas we do give us the opportunity to test things where we need to test, to benchmark ourselves, so that throughout the cycle we know where we are at and what we need to work on. And hopefully it will all come together when we need it – at the Olympics,” said Belcher.
Aquece Rio International Sailing Regatta 2015 is the second sailing test event in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. Held out of Marina da Gloria from 15-22 August, the Olympic test event welcomes more than 330 sailors from 52 nations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Men’s and Women’s 470 fleets feature 22 and 19 teams respectively. London 2012 silver medallist Luke Patience (GBR), sailing with Elliot Willis will be amongst the frontrunners in the men’s fleet alongside the links of Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO), Stu McNay and Dave Hughes (USA) and Olympic bronze medallists Lucas Calabrese and Juan de la Fuente (ARG).
2014 World, European and World Cup champions Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar (AUT), London 2012 silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) and Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) will be in the mix in the women’s fleet.
Six race courses will be tested throughout the week, three outside of Guanabara Bay and three inside. Courses outside include Pai, Copacabana and Niteroi whilst the inside courses are Pão de Açúcar, Ponte and Escola Naval. All will be tested throughout the week by the ten Olympic sailing events. Click here to view the racing areas.
The Laser fleet is the largest in Rio with 39 sailors registered to sail. The list is packed full of exceptional sailors that have the capabilities of hitting the right note on any given day. Leading the charge will be Robert Scheidt (BRA), Tom Burton (AUS), Tonci Stipanovic (CRO), Nick Thompson (GBR), Pavlos Kontides (CYP), Andy Maloney (NZL) and Charlie Buckingham (USA).
Aquece Rio International Sailing Regatta 2015 is the second sailing test event in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. Held out of Marina da Gloria from 15-22 August, the Olympic test event welcomes more than 330 sailors from 52 nations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In the Laser Radial, Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) will be aiming for top spot again after her success 12 months ago whilst Olympic silver and bronze medallists Marit Bouwmeester (NED) and Evi Van Acker (BEL) will also pose a threat.
In the Nacra 17, Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) will be the pair to beat. The vibrant French duo has won two Nacra 17 world titles together, a string of ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas as well as Aquece Rio 2014 gold. They will be hunting for gold again.
Further strong contenders include Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (AUS), Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank (AUT), Iker Martinez and Marina Lopez (ESP), Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri (ITA), Mandy Mulder and Coen de Koning (NED) as well as Matias Buhler and Nathalie Brugger (SUI).
Racing is scheduled to commence at 13:00 on Saturday 15 August with racing concluding on Saturday 22 August.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is set to welcome 339 sailors from 52 nations for the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2015, the Olympic test event, from 15-22 August 2015.
The Aquece Rio is the second sailing test event in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition and sailors will be looking to stamp their authority one year out from the largest sporting event in the world.
Sailing’s test event often acts as an indicator into who will be on the podium at the Olympic Games itself. In the build up to London 2012, the one year to go test event saw 18 eventual Olympic medallists finish on the podium with the remaining podium finishers demonstrating the attributes that it takes to become an Olympic medallist.
Rio 2016 Olympic Games
49er sailors Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) were one of four crews who won the London test event before claiming an emphatic gold at the main event and they’ll be looking to set a similar precedent in Rio even though they’ve had a mixed year.
After a silver medal at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères followed by a couple of results off the podium, including a fourth place at the 49er Open European Championship most recently, the pair are looking forward to build on their performance at the Test Event.
“The European Champs were the last event for us in Europe this year. After a second at the World Cup in Hyeres and sixth in Weymouth we were looking to try and get back up on to the podium, which unfortunately did not happen after a bad last day and dropping from first into fourth. But reflecting on the event as a whole, I think it was really good for us to sail well there, all but the last day, which gives us a lot of confidence for Rio in August,” Outteridge said.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 7-4. photo credit ISAF
Since their victory at London 2012 Outteridge and Jensen have taken somewhat of a back seat as their training partners and Olympic silver medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) commenced an unbeaten 49er run that includes 2014 test event gold, two world titles and four ISAF Sailing World Cup golds.
Burling and Tuke will have the favourites tag pinned on them during the test event and will look to continue their good form.
The Aquece Rio 49er fleet will feature 20 boats, the same number that will be present on the Rio 2016 startline ensuring perfect preparation for all teams involved.
Whilst focus can easily be put solely on the Australian and Kiwi teams the fleet is full of exceptional talent that have the capabilities to take gold.
Nico Delle Karth and Nikolaus Resch (AUT) took gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami at the turn of the year and will pose a strong threat across the week. Denmark’s Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist Jonas Warrer, sailing with Anders Thomsen has the experience and will be at the top of the pack throughout the week.
In addition, John Pink and Stu Bithell (GBR), Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis (FRA), Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern (IRL) and Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel (GER) will all be targeting the podium.
The Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta allows the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to evaluate and make key decisions in advance of making the final decisions that will govern the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.
Six race courses will be tested throughout the week, three outside of Guanabara Bay and three inside. Courses outside include Pai, Copacabana and Niteroi whilst the inside courses are Pão de Açúcar, Ponte and Escola Naval. All will be tested throughout the week by the ten Olympic sailing events. Click here to view the racing areas.
Like the 49er, the 49erFX will feature 20 boats at Rio 2016 and with 19 boats on the test event start line conditions will be similar to Games time.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 7-2. photo credit ISAF
Brazil’s Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze took gold at the 2014 test event and will be favourites to take another gold medal. Joining them in the fleet will be 2013 world champions Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL), the consistent Danish duo Ida Marie Nielsen and Marie Olsen as well as Italians Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich (ITA).
The Finn fleet will see 20 competitors on the start line. All eyes will be on the in-form Giles Scott (GBR). Scott is on a run of 11 straight victories in ranked regattas, including the 2014 test event, and will be hard to beat on the Rio waters that he’s become accustomed to. Aiming to upset the run will be Olympic silver medallist Jonas Hoegh Christensen (DEN), bronze medallist Jonathan Lobert (FRA) and home nation favourite Jorge Zarif (BRA).
The Men’s and Women’s RS:X fleets will also serve up some strong competition. 2014 Aquece Rio gold medallists Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) and Charline Picon (FRA) return to Rio aiming to further demonstrate they are the pair to beat in the Men’s and Women’s windsurfer.
However, gunning to put their mark on things in the men’s fleet will be Nick Dempsey (GBR), Pierre Le Coq (FRA), Byron Kokkalanis (GRE), Nimrod Mashiah (ISR) and Pawel Tarnowski (POL). Leading the charge in the Women’s RS:X will be Blanca Manchon (ESP), Bryony Shaw (GBR), Maayan Davidovich (ISR), Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) and Lilian de Geus (NED).
Racing is scheduled to commence at 13:00 on Saturday 15 August with racing concluding on Saturday 22 August.
Today marks the one-year countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where equestrian sport will celebrate 104 years in the Olympic movement at the first Games to be held in South America.
The world’s best horses and riders will compete for medals in the Olympic disciplines of Eventing, Dressage and Jumping over 12 days of intense competition at the Olympic Equestrian Centre at Deodoro.
The Rio 2016 Olympic equestrian action gets underway the day after the Opening Ceremony on 5 August. As always, Eventing opens the Olympic equestrian sport, and it is Eventing that features in the Aquece Rio (“Warm Up Rio”) test event, which starts tomorrow.
While this week’s test event is limited to Brazilian horses, a total of 200 equestrian athletes will join 10,300 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which run from 5-21 August with 19 days of world-class sport.
“The world’s biggest sporting event is now just a year away,” FEI Director, Eventing & Olympic, Catrin Norinder said. “Our venue at Deodoro is absolutely stunning and we’re all set for this week’s test event, now that we’ve marked the one-year countdown to the Games. We’re all really looking forward to seeing equestrian sport, one of the only Olympic sports in which men and women compete against each other and which involves two athletes, the horse and the rider, at Rio 2016. The road to Rio is now a major focus in our sport, with qualifying events ongoing around the world.”
Rio 2015 Olympic Games
Rio-bound
Ten nations have so far qualified Jumping teams for Rio, with six nations through for Dressage. The next major opportunity for European nations to qualify for the Jumping and Dressage at Rio 2016 will be the FEI European Championships at Aachen (GER), which starts in just six days (11 August).
Eight nations have already booked their team Eventing slots for Rio, and all eyes are next on the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle on 10-13 September. This event, which takes place in the grounds of Scotland’s most-visited castle, forms part of UK Sport’s £40 million National Lottery funded events programme, which is helping to build a strong legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Rio 2016 Olympic equestrian action gets underway on 6 August 2016. As always, Eventing will open the Olympic equestrian sports, and the Cross Country phase will be a huge attraction in the Deodoro Olympic Park venue with a course featuring stunning water jumps. (Gustavo Nascimento)
#1yeartogo #Rio2016
“Rio de Janeiro will be the focus of the sporting world’s attention next year, when it becomes the first South American city to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“Staged in one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, the Games are going to be really spectacular. Rio will be making full use of its world-famous landmarks, just as London did, and equestrian sport will be rubbing shoulders with other exciting sports at Deodoro, including basketball, fencing, hockey, mountain biking, BMX, canoe slalom and rugby sevens.
“We are experiencing massive growth in equestrian sport around the world, and Rio will be our perfect platform, putting equestrian in the limelight at the greatest sporting event on the planet.”
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The Olympic Equestrian Test Event – the Aquece Rio (“Warm Up Rio”) International Horse Trials – gets underway on 6 August, a day after celebrations in Brazil to mark the one-year countdown to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Representatives from 16 National Federations, including athletes and officials, will travel to the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Deodoro to take part in the Observers Programme which runs concurrently with the Test Event.
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States of America will all be sending delegations to Rio next month.
Rio 2015 Olympic Games
All five Technical Delegates will be present at the Test Event: Tim Randle (Veterinary), Jacques Van Daele (Dressage), Alec Lochore (Eventing), Santiago Varela (Jumping) and Amanda Bond (Para-Equestrian Dressage), along with John McEwen, Chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee, and the FEI Sports Directors of the three Olympic disciplines: John Roche (Jumping), Trond Asmyr (Dressage) and Catrin Norinder (Eventing).
The Test Event will also be attended by 12 International Technical Officials and a large team of National Technical Officials, with the second group including FEI Stewards, Dressage scribes, judging assistants and Eventing Cross Country officials.
The CIC2* competition, which will be contested by local horses, features a Cross Country course designed by Pierre Michelet (FRA), the man responsible for the championship track at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy last year.
The Warm Up Rio event allows for the testing of a wide range of components prior to the 2016 Games, including technological aspects such as results, scoring and timing, the Field Of Play (both the Main Arena and Cross Country), training arenas, stabling operations, sanitary and biosecurity procedures, spectator flows and management, accreditation and media operations.
Anti-doping processes will also be tested, with human and equine sampling being conducted during the event. FEI Vet Committee member Colin Roberts will oversee equine testing, while Peter Whitehead, Chair of the FEI Medical Committee, will oversee human testing systems, as well as assessing medical facilities.
The event also allows for comprehensive testing of the footing in both the Main Arena and on the Cross Country. Christian Bauer, the footing advisor appointed by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, and Professor Lars Roepstorff, the international footing specialist from a scientific perspective, will both be in attendance. In addition to the horses contesting the CIC, a small group of Jumping horses will be brought in to test the Main Arena footing.
“As equestrian is one of the first major test events for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games it will play an important role in establishing the Organising Committee’s systems and processes”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said. “The test event is a vital stage in the preparations to assess operational readiness, and a huge amount that needs to be tested will be tested.
“There are still some areas that will have to be tested between now and Games time, such as accommodation for athletes, grooms and National Olympic Committees. Another aspect that won’t be tested next month is the arrivals and departures process for horses, as we only have national horses at the test event, but Rio 2016 has an expert and hugely experienced team in place led by Peden Bloodstock which flies horses all over the world, including in and out of Brazil, so we are confident that this process is in safe hands.”
The Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 has drawn to a close with the Laser, Laser Radial and 470 honours being picked up on the final day of action.
The Laser and Laser Radial gold medals went the way of Tom Burton (AUS) and Anne Marie Rindom (DEN). Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) made sure of Men’s 470 gold whilst Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) clinched the Women’s 470 honours.
Racing on the Pão de Açucar race track, a south easterly breeze in between 5-10 knots allowed all the fleets to conclude their racing. The breeze died towards the latter part of the afternoon as the Women’s 470 wrapped up proceedings.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 7-1. Photo credit ISAF
Laser
Tom Burton (AUS) took a four point lead over Nick Thompson (GBR) into the Medal Race but with the Briton unable take to the course due to injury the Australian had a strong advantage over the chasing pack.
Burton came through in sixth to take gold in the light breeze and whilst on paper the result seems convincing, it was far from that as the Australian explained, “It was pretty tough. I had a really good start and was going good in the first half of the first beat but I got a bit conservative and made a bit of an error and ended up at the back pretty quick. The rest of the race was pretty stressful.”
Things could have been tighter for the Australian had Thompson raced which Burton was quick to recognise, “Yesterday I didn’t see him in that second race where he got hit but obviously he got hit pretty bad after seeing him today. It would have changed things up so who knows what would have happened.”
With the light winds testing the sailors’ tactical nous the positions chopped and changed. Francesco Marrai (ITA) took the bullet and was followed by Charlie Buckingham (USA). Both sailors finished fifth and sixth respectively. Rutger van Schaardenburg (NED) came through in third which was enough to push him up from third into silver medal position.
Thompson’s advantage was a good one coming into the Medal Race and even though he counted 22 points he takes away bronze. Robert Scheidt (BRA) finished in eighth which was not enough to push him ahead of Thompson.
For Burton and the remaining sailors it has been a good test and offered a glimpse of what will occur in two years time. With a mixed bag of conditions the best Laser sailor will Olympic gold as Burton concluded, “If you’re good across the board you’ll be good here.”
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 7-2. photo credit ISAF
Laser Radial
Denmark’s Anne Marie Rindom claimed a hard fought Laser Radial gold medal following a fourth in the Medal Race.
Rindom trailed overnight leaders Tuula Tenkanen (FIN) and Evi Van Acker (BEL) by two points heading into the final race and was able to advance up to the top of the podium as she explained, “I was in third position and I could become first. I was really nervous, obviously. I was trying not to be but you can’t always do that when you have all the adrenaline going on. I tried to stay out of trouble and avoid contact with all other boats and just sail my own race by focusing on my sailing and speed and it turned out really great.
“I saw that the other girls in front of me got a really bad start so from there it was just follow them and make sure they didn’t get ahead of me.”
Midway through the race Alison Young (GBR) had moved into gold medal position as she took the lead. Rindom had work to do and with Tenkanen and Van Acker struggling behind her she pushed forward. She moved up from seventh to fourth by the conclusion of the race as Young dropped back a spot.
“It’s a huge step for me,” smiled Rindom. “It’s pretty good and a good signal you can sail in the Olympic venue. I think Rio is definitely a hard place to sail. It’s so much different to what we’re used to in Europe so we’re definitely going to have to train here a lot.”
Young managed to take silver whilst Van Acker came through in eighth position to hand her bronze. With a ninth place finish Tenkanen dropped from first to fourth overall.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 7-3. PHOTO CREDIT ISAF
Men’s 470
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) brought a 17 point advantage into the Men’s 470 Medal Race and whilst they got the job done their ninth place finish was far from their best.
“It was tricky final race,” admitted Ryan. “We were comfortable with what we had to do in the final race so we didn’t really feel any pressure or stress. It was the first time we sailed on that course and we rushed into it a bit. It was nice with some good racing in the fleet and we learnt something new and we’ll practice some more on that area again.”
Luke Patience and Elliot Willis took a third and walk away with silver whilst Paul Snow Hansen and Dan Willcox (NZL) won the Medal Race to take bronze.
A lot of positives can be taken from the week by the Men’s 470 fleet but Belcher knows there is work to do two years out from the Olympic Games, even with an excellent performance, “A lot of the athletes that haven’t performed to their expectation here will turn round and say they’ve got plenty time so they’ll be okay. And the guys that did perform get confidence from it.
“It depends on the situation and for us we are really happy to come here and win. We knew if we sailed well we could but it’s nice to get a bit of confidence. We’ve got to spend some more time here and the other athletes will do the same.”
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 7-4. photo credit ISAF
Women’s 470
Jo Aleh and Polly came out on top in a three way shoot out for the Women’s 470 title. Heading into the day Aleh and Powrie were tied on 15 points with Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) and Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (USA).
It was winner take all between the trio and with the Kiwis taking fourth they had sealed the deal. In a fading afternoon breeze the conditions were extremely hard for the Race Committee and sailors’ as Aleh explained, “It was a pretty tough race. Sail by the seat of your pants, see what happens and keep hoping it will work out. We knew we had to beat both of them [Mills/Clark and Haeger/Provancha] and be top five if the Austrians won. We always wanted to do well but just had to beat those boats. Pretty early on, as we started we were in the middle of them and kept an eye on them. The Americans dropped back pretty quickly so it was just between us and the Brits.
“Everyone found it stressful. There was a lot happening. When the boys raced before the wind was a little bit more set but the wind had just changed. It was one of the most unstable Medal Races we’ve done.”
Mills and Clark came through in sixth to pick up silver whilst the Americans dropped out of the podium places following a tenth. Austria’s Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar capitalised on the Americans misfortune with a fifth, enough to hand them bronze via countback.
Attention now turns to the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championship which takes place in northern Spain from 8-21 September 2014. The Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds is the first Olympic Qualification regatta for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. 50% of Rio 2016 spots will be decided in Santander.
The leaderboards across the ten events on show at the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 are starting to take shape following four days of competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Medal Race places have been decided in the Men’s and Women’s RS:X fleets whilst the top batch of Olympic sailors have cemented their spots in the top places of the remaining fleets.
Tuesday’s rain was replaced with sunshine and a cool 15 knot breeze across the five race areas. The waves remained on the outside courses whilst shifty conditions on the inside courses was present, ensuring firm tests of tactical nous.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 4-2. photo credit ISAF
Men’s and Women’s RS:X
Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) and Charline Picon (FRA) solidified their spot at the top of the Men’s and Women’s RS:X leaderboards.
Picon was dominant once again in the Women’s fleet and with a strong racing day that included a bullet, a second and a fourth. She has opened up a 16 point lead ahead of the Medal Race on Thursday 7 August. Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) sits second on 29 points whilst Marina Alabau (ESP) is third on 40 points.
Picon has a medal in the bag but the colour is to be decided in the Medal Race but with such a strong lead it would take a disastrous day for the French racer to lose grip on top spot.
Van Rijsselberge has a narrow advantage in the Men’s fleet and leads Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) by just three points.
The leading duo were unable to find their form from their previous two days of racing as Kokkalanis explained his day, “It was not such a good day unlike yesterday. I had a seventh, eighth and a second. It was kind of tricky. It was all about the first upwind and I couldn’t find myself. I’m still happy, still in second place and tomorrow is the Medal Race and I hope everything will go well.”
Whilst every racer wants to win, no matter what the event, the Aquece Rio has been a learning curve for the sailors. Kokkalanis concluded, “We haven’t raced in a lot of different conditions. We need to train here a lot more to master this place. What I saw yesterday was that it can be really tricky. There are some changes on the course because the surroundings are strange with the mountains so we need to train in this place.”
Polish London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Przemyslaw Miarczynski occupies the final podium spot on 30 points with plenty to play for on the final day.
Men’s RS:X Medal Racing will commence at 13:00 on Pão de Açucar with the Women’s RS:X fleet following at 13:40 on the same race area.
Nacra 17
Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) were dominant in the Nacra 17 as they took three race victories from four races.
The French pair are seven points clear of Ben Saxton and Hannah Diamond (GBR) in second place and Besson was visibly pleased with his day, “The day was really windy and shifty but for us it was great,” smiled Besson. “We learnt that the wind is never the same as the forecast. It was a bit windier and it was really difficult but we learnt a lot about the racing area.”
For all of the fleet the event is about learning and every day is a school day as Besson added, “We are just looking everywhere, seeing everything and finding out about the venue.”
Saxton and Diamond advanced to second overall following a steady day that included three second place finishes and a fourth. Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis (AUS) drop to third, three points off the Brits.
Laser
Australia’s Tom Burton held on to his Laser lead after a fantastic day from Nick Thompson (GBR). The British racer smashed it up on the Copacabana course taking both of the day’s race wins.
Burton leads by a single point after an up and down day, “I started off reasonably good with a third,” explained the Aussie, “but then I got a little bit mixed up and bounced around and maybe finished early teens so not that great.
“Yesterday was pretty steady with the big waves and shifts. It was a little bit skewed with the breeze but there were a few more shifts today. It’s very similar to what we’ve had in training so we kind of expected it.
“Everyone is talking about a light wind venue but the first two days have been pretty breezy. It’s very shifty and very predictable sometimes and unpredictable other times. It’s hard to judge what we’ll get but everyone faces the same obstacles. There’s going to be big scores but tight racing as well.”
Rutger van Schaardenburg (NED) is third overall on 18 points.
Laser Radial
Despite picking up a 21st place finish Ireland’s Annalise Murphy moved into pole position in the Laser Radial. Racing on the big Copacabana race course waves, the Irish sailor had a poor opening race but hit back in the second of the day, picking up a third.
On her day Murphy said, “I messed up the first race. I wasn’t feeling so good in that big swell. I hit a mark and went for a swim as well so that was pretty frustrating but I came back good in the second race. I fought back to second by last reach but then I got a bit high and Anne Marie [Rindom (DEN)] got by me but it was really fun out there. The waves were really big, sun was shining and the wind was in so it was good.”
Like Burton in the Laser, Murphy was quick to echo his point on Rio’s conditions, “I think the last two days the waves are probably the biggest I’ve ever raced in. It’s not what you’d be expecting when coming to Rio as people have been saying it’s a light wind venue. We’ve had quite a good breeze over the last two days and huge waves and it’s difficult but it’s something we’re all going to have to learn and get used to.”
Marit Bouwmeester was the standout performer in the 25-boat Laser Radial fleet and notched up double bullets. Her opening three races were not quite up to the high standard she sets herself but she bounced back and is fifth overall.
Rindom is three points behind Murphy on 13 points with Tuula Tenkanen (FIN) in third.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 4-2. photo credit ISAF
Men’s and Women’s 470
The 470 fleets remained outside Guanabara Bay but switched from Copacabana to the Niteroi race track.
It was business as usual for Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) as they continued their fine run of the form. From two races the Australians picked up a bullet and a third and have an 11 point advantage over Luke Patience and Elliot Willis (GBR).
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) advanced to the top of the Women’s 470 leaderboard after notching up double bullets. The Kiwis lead on six points. Overnight leaders Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) consolidated their excellent opening day with a fourth and a discarded sixth and trail Aleh and Powrie by three points. Great Britain’s Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) are a point behind the Americans in third.
49er / 49erFX
There is no change in the top three of the 49erFX with Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) top of the pack followed by Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) and Olivia Price and Eliza Solly (AUS).
The Brazilians weren’t quite on top form early on in the day on Ponte course as they picked up a ninth from the opening race. They bounced back with a bullet and a third to lead the Kiwis by five points. Maloney and Meech picked up a 2-5-2 scoreline whilst the Australians recorded a bullet, a fourth and a sixth.
Changes are afoot in the 49er fleet as Julien D’Ortoli and Noe Delpech (FRA) marched up the leaderboard to take top spot. A first and a fourth leaves them on 16 points going into the fifth day, two ahead of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL).
Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) took two mid fleet finishes, leaving them third overall on 19 points.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 4-3. Photo credit ISAF
Finn
Giles Scott (GBR) was on top form in the Finn fleet and posted double bullets and a fourth. The British sailor has opened up an 18 point advantage over Jonathan Lobert (FRA) who has progressed up to second overall. Ed Wright (GBR) is a single point behind Lobert.
Racing resumes at 13:00 on Thursday 7 August. Four races are scheduled in the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 with three in the remaining fleets.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 3-4. Photo credit ISAF
The two years to go until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games milestone was celebrated at the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 as the 324 sailors from 34 nations experienced a mixed bag of conditions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
As Rio prepares to host the world’s best athletes the spotlight is firmly on sailing amongst the national press with widespread coverage on television, on radio, in newspapers and online.
The third day of racing at Aquece Rio saw a range of conditions with wind and waves on the outside courses and tricky breeze inside Guanabara Bay.
A 15 knot south westerly breeze worked its way across the five race areas with outside courses Copacabana and Niteroi experiencing a stable breeze and wild waves. Inside Guanabara Bay was a different story with an up and down breeze that tested the sailors across Pão de Açucar, Ponte and Escola Naval.
Women’s 470
Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) revelled in the big waves on the Copacabana race course taking a second and double bullets.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Haeger. “We were outside and got to play in the big waves. Got a little seasick at the end but you’ve got to work through it I guess but it was a really fun day.”
The waves challenged the sailors but when it comes to the finest female sailors in the world, they’ve done their homework, “We are really fortunate to have access to the Gulf Stream in Miami and we’ve gone out there and struggled out there in the waves a little bit. I’ve dumped my crew Briana out in the waves a couple of times,” joked Haeger. “I wouldn’t say we’re used to it because you never are but we’ve definitely had some good training.”
The Women’s 470 fleet will mix up racing on the Copacabana, Escola Naval and Niteroi courses throughout the week and Haeger can take good knowledge away from the opening bout on Copacabana, “First of all the name is awesome,” smiled Haeger, “But a big takeaway is mastering the waves from behind on both tacks, that was crucial and knowing when to pump and knowing when to hold high. Mode transitions were really crucial today.”
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) took the first race victory of the day and sit second overall following a 3-7. ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) are third overall, tied with the Brits on four points.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 3-1. photo credit ISAF
Men’s 470
Like the American Women’s 470 sailors, Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) also recorded double bullets and a second.
Sharing the Copacabana race course with the Women’s fleet, the Men’s 470 began racing first of all in the large waves and it was the World #1 Australians who enjoyed it the most.
“It was great for us with quite big waves and probably some of the biggest waves we’ve raced in,” exclaimed Belcher. “It was fantastic out there. The water’s really clean and there were big waves and for our class you have to be very dynamic to move the boat forward and it was just enjoyable conditions out there.”
Strength in depth is present throughout the 23-boat fleet with those racing in Rio firmly set on Olympic glory in two years’ time and Belcher was quick to recognise this fact, “Collectively we do a lot of the events together and we race each other a lot and it’s no surprise to see all the main guys here. We are missing the Argentineans but it’s a great opportunity to focus on the conditions and get a better understanding of what we can expect in a couple of years.”
Croatia’s Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic are second whilst Race 2 victors Luke Patience and Elliot Willis (GBR) sit in third.
49er
Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen got acclimatised to the Rio 2016 Olympic venue fairly swiftly and took three victories from four 49er races.
The 49er fleet sailed three races in the morning on the Pão de Açucar course before returning ashore to allow the 49erFX fleet to compete. They took to the Escola Naval course in the afternoon to complete their programme.
Outteridge and Jensen are seven points clear of Austria’a Niko Delle Karth and Nikolaus Resch and were pleased with how things went, “We’re pretty happy with our day and it’s always nice to win the first race of regatta so we’ll see how it unfolds from here.
“There’s a huge amount of strength here. The Kiwis were number one and two and Dylan [Fletcher] and Alain [Sign GBR] were fourth and we were fifth at the last Worlds so basically you’ve got the top nations here. There are a few countries missing like Denmark and one German instead of two. It’s a good fleet with 19 boats so it’s just like an Olympic sized fleet.”
Delle Karth and Resch took the day’s other bullet to sit second whilst Julien D’Ortoli and Noé Delpech (FRA) sit third.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 3-2. photo credit ISAF
49erFX
Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) used their local knowledge to their advantage in the 49erFX posting a 2-2-1-1 scoreline.
The Brazilians are based in Rio and read the conditions to perfection on the Pão de Açucar race area. After racing Kunze said, “Today was pretty good. A cold front came this morning so the conditions were pretty shifty but we managed all the races pretty well and we’re really happy about that. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll have more wind.
“We train here in Guanabara Bay but this was not a typical condition because of the cold front. We’re not too used to it.”
With 15-boats in the fleet the Brazilians are enjoying the company. Kunze concluded, “For us it’s really nice because otherwise we’d be here sailing and training alone. It’s a training regatta and it’s really nice to have all the girls here.”
2013 49erFX World Champions Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) came out strong with double bullets from the first two races but faded as the day went on, picking up a 7-4. However for the Kiwis it’s not all about the performance, “Coming to Rio for the first time we’ve been trying to learn as much as we can from the venue,” explained Meech. “So far it’s been pretty tricky as most days have been quite different.
“It was quite puffy and really up and down and we had to sail on a lifted tack and try to piece together a nice beat. For the first couple we managed to do that but on the other two we got a bit lost.”
Olivia Price and Eliza Solly (AUS) and Lisa Ericson and Hanna Klinga (SWE) are tied on 11 points in third and fourth place.
RS:X
After five Women’s RS:X races Charline Picon (FRA) has opened up a 13 point lead in the 22 boat fleet. From three races on the third day the French racer added another bullet, a discarded fifth and a third to leave her in an excellent position.
Behind the runaway French racer just six points separates second to sixth place with tight racing evident on Escola Naval where the fleet raced.
Dorian Van Rijsselberge (NED) and Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) are locked on nine points in the 28-boat Men’s RS:X fleet. Neither racer took a bullet on the third day but they demonstrated that consistent racing pays off.
Six qualification races remain ahead of the Men’s and Women’s RS:X Medal Races so there is plenty left to play for.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 3-3. photo credit ISAF
Finn
Giles Scott (GBR) moved into pole position in the Finn fleet following a fifth, a race win and a second. The British sailor has a four point advantage over overnight leader Jorge Zarif (BRA) who discards a 14th and counts two fifth places from three races on Ponte.
New Zealand’s Josh Junior had a strong day on the water and took the third race victory and as a result climbs up to third overall.
Nacra 17
Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis (AUS) hold the lead in the 18-boat Nacra 17 fleet after double bullets and a seventh. Racing on the Ponte race area, the Australians were in total control and lead Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) who took the third bullet of the day.
Franck Cammas and Sophie de Turckheim (FRA) are third but Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (NZL) and Ben Saxton and Hannah Diamond (GBR) sit a point behind the French crew.
Laser/Laser Radial
Tom Burton (AUS) was on top form on the Niteroi course. Racing in big waves and a consistent breeze the Australian posted a 2-2-1 scoreline. He leads on three points with Nick Thompson (GBR), who took the second race victory, behind the Aussie on seven points. Rutger van Schaardenburg (NED) was victorious in the opening race of the day and is fourth overall, a point behind third place sailor Jesper Stalheim (SWE).
RIO 2016 two years to go : photo credit Alex Ferro/Rio
Racing is scheduled to commence at 12:00 local time on 6 August. The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 have four races scheduled whilst the remaining fleets will sail three.
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