Four Rio Podiums Decided on Penultimate Day

The penultimate day of the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2015 served up four more podiums with Italian, Lithuanian, Kiwi and Brazilian sailors claiming the golden honours.

Francesco Marrai (ITA) kick started the day taking the first gold in the Laser whilst Lithuania’s Gintare Scheidt (LTU) followed shortly after in the Laser Radial.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) confirmed their status as the leading 49er sailors with another complete performance whilst the best was saved until the last. Home nation favourites and the popular crew of Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) stole the show in the 49erFX, coming from behind to clinch gold.

The Men’s and Women’s 470 and Finn confirmed the Medal Race participants whilst the Nacra 17 will have to wait another day to sail their Medal Race after time run out to hold it on the day.

49erFX

Brazil’s Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze came from behind to take a memorable gold medal in the 49erFX.

Home nation favourites and Olympic champions in waiting, as perceived by the Brazilian media, Grael and Kunze were able to overturn a nine point deficit between Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich (ITA) as they took their chance when it came.

Conti and Clapcich ended the race at the back of the fleet and a fourth for the Brazilians gave them gold by three points.

The Italians were in the driving seat heading into the race but small mistakes in the Medal Race gave the Brazilians an initiative as Conti explained, “We made a mistake at the first rounding. The spinnaker halyard was stuck in the spreaders. It was my mistake as I did not bear away after the gybeset. We were still in control of the two boats we needed to be in control of until the last upwind and they, the Swedish and Brazilians split and we made a tactical mistake. We decided to stay with the Swedish and the rest of the fleet. It meant that the only way we could lose was from the Brazilians as she could gain boats.”

And gain boats is exactly what the Brazilians did as Grael described things from her point of view, “I knew there was a chance we could turn it around but I was more concerned about keeping silver than taking first but we got a chance on the last downwind so we took it.

“It was quite a tricky race. We pulled out a very nice last downwind and we managed to get enough points to win from the Italians. I don’t think it could have ended better.”

By the vast amounts of Brazilian media in attendance throughout the day, it was almost as if Grael and Kunze had won Olympic gold itself. But as a test event, dealing and handling with an expectant crowd is just what is needed, “The Brazilian media either worship you or kill you,” explained Grael through a smile, “We get pressured into talking about the bay but it’s all under control.

“I’m feeling really happy. You can kind of tell what the Olympics is going to be like, really hard to sail in and anything can happen.”

Sweden’s Lisa Ericson and Hanna Klinga completed the podium after an eighth in the Medal Race.

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 Pedro Martinez/Sailing Energy

Laser

Francesco Marrai (ITA) will be able to book his plane ticket to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games after he took gold in the Laser. For the Italian team, any sailor that finished on the podium at the test event would be guaranteed a place at Rio 2016 and Marrai secured his spot on the startline in the most stylish of ways, with a golden shine.

Coming into the event Marrai was a rank outsider for gold with several leading sailors aiming to lay down a marker and when asked if he thought he’d win the Italian exclaimed, “No, no, no, not at all. Last year I finished sixth and that was a very good regatta for me.

“I didn’t expect to win or get a medal but I found myself up there and I just kept on fighting. The first day I was down in seventh and second, third and then first for three days and I was able to just keep my position.

“I’m very happy right now, it’s quite a new situation for me and I cannot show much emotion but this is very big for me.”

A ninth in the Medal Race handed the Italian gold in a high scoring week of Laser racing. Consistency was almost non-existent as Rio’s challenging breeze and current tested the sailors not only physically, but mentally.

“It’s a very complicated place,” explained Marrai. “You can find both strong and light wind. Big waves outside the Bay and little ones inside the bay. It’s a very complete place. You need to be a complete sailor. I really love this place.”

As for Marrai’s planning for the next 12 months, “It’s going to be a big challenge. We’re going to make a program with the federation and do our best for next year. We want to be well prepared to get that gold medal again, of course.”

Fourth in the Medal Race handed Jean Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) silver whilst Tom Burton’s (AUS) fifth gave him bronze. It was heartbreak for Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) who got stuck in challenging conditions on the race track that meant he finished at the back of the pack to fall from second to sixth.

Lee Parkhill (CAN) took the Medal Race bullet.

Laser Radial

Gintare Scheidt held on to take gold in the Laser Radial despite receiving a discretionary penalty in advance of the Medal Race.

Scheidt was awarded four extra points for breaching the class rules which in fact relegated her to third overall going into the Medal Race so she had it all to do.

In the end Scheidt took the bullet which handed her a well-deserved gold medal, “Today was a bit tense because I was protested due to measurement and I got an extra four points in the Medal Race. It was not a nice way to start the Medal Race day but it was my mistake, nobody else’s and I accepted it. I went into the race not thinking about it and that’s what I did.

“I’m feeling great now, it’s a big relief. Today I was tied with two other boats and I could have lost the medal but now it’s time to celebrate. It’s a good present for my son who is six years old today. He’s in Lithuania with my mother but he’s always cheering for me and saying to me, ‘mummy you’re sailing so good, keep it going’.”

Scheidt’s son will wake up with good news from his mother but the report from his father will be mellow after he missed out on a medal by two points in the Laser. “There was only one medal in the family this year,” smiled Gintare. “Two would be perfect but we sailed at our maximum. Sailing is something you have to do at the best you can.”

The Robert, Gintare Scheidt husband and wife combination is a well decorated one and Gintare is comfortable with her surroundings in Rio, “The Brazilian team helps me a lot. I feel like a part of their team and they help me with everything. Also Robert, he has a lot of experience here but I don’t have the possibility to train here much. I have only sailed two regattas here. Most people think I’m a local here but I’m not. The top sailors training here sail in Rio a lot more than me.”

For now, the Scheidt’s walk away with one medal but with one year of preparation remaining, who’s to say it won’t be two?

Evi Van Acker (BEL) and Marit Bouwmeester (NED) completed the podium whilst Paige Railey (USA), having occupied a podium position for the large part of the week missed out after a DNF in the Medal Race.

49er

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) extended their unbeaten run in the 49er by taking a convincing victory.

With just a single result out of the top eight in 11 races, the Kiwis set another marker on the road to Rio. Heading into the day they had a comfortable lead over their rivals and knew a solid result would seal the deal. They did exactly that, coming through in fourth and Tuke was pleased with a job well done, “It feels great. You know, it’s a really big objective for us one year out from the Games and we’ve put a lot of emphasis on this, this year. We’re really happy and it puts us in a good place going into next year.”

Burling echoed his compatriots thoughts, “Obviously this is great practice for us trying to test everything for next year. We’re really happy with how we started off. We started off pretty solid, not fantastic, but we just got better during the week.”

The test event allowed the 49er sailors the perfect opportunity to imitate the Olympic arena. Twenty boats on the start line is the exact same number as the Olympic Games and for the Kiwis it was the perfect opportunity to show their rivals, many of whom who will sail at Rio 2016, who is boss in the 49er, “This week’s been really great practice for us,” commented Tuke, “There are 20 boats like we’ll be racing in next year with one boat from each country which isn’t what we normally have at other regattas.

“That’s been really good for us. We have a lot of little things and tricks you learn from sailing in the bay and just how we prepare as well with our coach and support staff. We’ve learnt a lot this week, not just from the results but a lot of other things and we’re happy with how it’s played out over the last three weeks in Rio.”

Nico Delle-Karth and Nikolaus Resch (AUT) sailed their way to a Medal Race second that confirmed them as silver medallists.

Bronze was in the hands of Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis (FRA) as Germany’s Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel finished at the back of the pack. However, three crews sailed the wrong course and were subsequently disqualified which promoted the Germans up to sixth overall handing them bronze.

Finn

It’s tight at the top in the Finn class with one point separating Pieter Jan Postma (NED) and Giles Scott (GBR) after the pair took a race win apiece as fleet racing concluded.

Scott has chipped away at Postma’s early week lead by notching up some consistent scores and a fifth alongside his bullet pulls him within reach of Postma. Whilst Postma took the opening race victory a tenth followed and it will all boil down to the Medal Race.

Tapio Nirkko (FIN) is within reach of the leading pair, eight points off of Postma. Meanwhile the fourth placed Jonathan Lobert (FRA) is ten points off.

Men’s and Women’s 470

The Medal Race places were decided in the Men’s and Women’s 470 after a race apiece on the Escola Naval racing area.

Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) will go in with a five point lead over Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) in the Women’s 470. Both teams have daylight between themselves and the third placed Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) who have four other teams able to overthrow them from the final podium spot.

In the Men’s 470, Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) have a handy seven point lead over Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS). The Croatians managed an eighth compared to the Australians 14th and as a result hold an advantage.

Onan Barreiros and Juan Curbelo Cabrera (ESP), Luke Patience and Elliot Willis (GBR) and Sofian Bouvet and Jeremie Mion (FRA) are all tied on 45 points in third.

Racing is scheduled to commence at 13:00 local time on Saturday 22 August as racing draws to a close at the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2015.

Sailors Showcase Talent on Olympic Waters

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.

339 Sailors Set For Second Sailing Test Event

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.