With nine gold medals at stake over four days of intense racing, the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final gets under way in Abu Dhabi tomorrow with some of the sport’s most accomplished elite athletes facing a stern examination.
Not even the multi-world title winning combination of Australia’s Mat Belcher and Will Ryan can afford a lapse in concentration if they are to secure another World Cup crown and gain extra momentum towards next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
A total of 150 competitors from 39 countries have assembled at Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club (ADSYC) to contest eight of the ten classes chosen for Rio, as well as an open kiteboarding competition containing one of the sport’s rising stars.
The nature of competitive sailing at the highest level, and the quality of the World Cup field built from five qualifying regattas, means that even the most decorated among the competitors can take nothing for granted in the regatta, which is supported by ADS Securities and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate. Eight Olympic sailing events are being contested along with open kiteboarding Credit Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy /ISAF
With their victory in the recent 470 World Championships, Belcher and Ryan extended the remarkable winning record of sailors who have been guided by the man they call The Medal Maker, Victor Kovalenko, the Ukrainian born coach of the Australian Olympic sailing team
In total, Kovalenko has coached the winners of nine Olympic medals – six of them gold – and 18 world championships. His relationship with Belcher goes back 16 years, peaking when the six-times world champion won gold at the London 2012 Olympics alongside Malcolm Page.
Double Olympic champion Page, who retired immediately after London to be replaced by Ryan, is in Abu Dhabi as a senior ISAF official and is ideally placed to say what is so special about Kovalenko.
“I wouldn’t say he has one special area of expertise, but he’s an amazing coordinator in the way he puts a programme together,” said Page. “He likes long-term projects and builds your skills over a period of time, testing and fine-tuning them and making sure that you peak at the right time.”
While Belcher and Ryan will start as firm favourites to retain their 470 World Cup title in Abu Dhabi, they know it will be anything but easy, particularly over a four-day regatta format which can see medal hopes disintegrate with one major race disaster.
ISAF and ADSYC, the regatta hosts, aim to inspire UAE youngsters this week. They could be helped in this by the appearance of Russian teenager Elena Kalinina, who won this year’s women’s IKA Formula Kite World Championships before her 18th birthday and is shortlisted for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards.
“I started kite boarding at the age of 12,” said Kalinina, who competes against the men, including British defending champion Oliver Bridge, in the open competition in Abu Dhabi. “Before that I sailed optimists but I had to change as I was too big to be sailing in that class.
“Most of the time my father was coaching me, and I gained a lot of knowledge from my optimist coach. Now I kite in the sailing academy in St. Petersburg.
“It is much more interesting to compete with men. They are very skilled, but kite boarding is not determined by the strength of your arms or legs, so I feel confident competing with them.
“I think it would be great for kiteboarding to be included in the Olympic Games. Right now a lot of people just kite for fun, but if it became an Olympic sport I feel more people would take it up.”
Elite athletes face stern test at 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final test in Abu Dhabi Credit Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy /ISAF
Kalinina has taken an instant liking to Abu Dhabi, as did Belgium’s Evi Van Acker last year when she captured the Laser Radial World Cup gold. Van Acker is determined to pull off a repeat performance this week, but will be under pressure, as will Austria’s Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar who are back to defend their title in the women’s 470 class, and Britain’s Bryony Shaw in the women’s RS:X competition.
All the race action takes place in the waters around Lulu Island off the Abu Dhabi corniche, presenting a great spectacle for spectators, and a worldwide ISAF television audience of millions. Race timings and results can be found at http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/home.php
Some of the most dominant figures in international sailing today are heading for Abu Dhabi to battle for honours in the ISAF 2015 World Cup Final next week.
Among the world and Olympic champions who will be in action at the five-day regatta taking place from 28 October to 1 November, none are currently more on top of their sport than Australia’s Mat Belcher.
The 2014 World Cup gold medallist and 2012 Olympic gold medallist captured his sixth successive world title in partnership with fellow-Aussie Will Ryan at the recently concluded 470 World Championships.
With Belcher at the helm, the pair will now start as firm favourites in Abu Dhabi to repeat their World Cup success in the UAE capital 12 months ago.
Also back on a gold medal course in Abu Dhabi will be Belgium’s Evi Van Acker, the 2014 World Cup final gold medallist and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist who has a particular liking for the venue.
After capturing the womens’ laser radial World Cup crown last year, leading from start to finish, she described her appearance in the UAE as, “one of the best sailing weeks I have had in my life.”
image Credit Sailing Energy/ISAF.
Abu Dhabi, growing in status as a top international sailing venue, is staging the climax of the prestigious annual series of Olympic sailing for elite and professional sailors for a second year. More than 150 competitors from 39 countries are taking part.
The battle for World Cup final places has produced plenty of spectacular competition since the first of five qualifying regattas was held in Melbourne, Australia last December. Among the first to seal their trip to Abu Dhabi was world No.1 laser sailor Tom Burton who topped the class to complete a hat-trick of gold medal wins in Melbourne. He will start as favourite in the UAE capital to clinch the World Cup crown, and a share of a $220,000 prize fund.
Croatia’s Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic will be looking to recreate the performance from the French qualification regatta held in Hyères in April. Fantela and Marenic were dominant in the Men’s 470 and stormed to a relatively easy victory in a world class fleet. They will have their eyes focused on top spot in Abu Dhabi.
Great Britain was next on the World Cup qualifying trail. Among those who came through from Weymouth and Portland were the British pairing of Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark who snatched the gold medal in the Women’s 470 by beating Aleh and Powrie, reversing the result from the 2012 Olympics.
The final qualifier took place in Qingdao, China last month. Not surprisingly, Chinese competitors were in sparkling form, among them Dongshuang Zhang who moved up to No.8 in the ISAF Laser Radial world rankings.
Four days of intensely competitive World Cup final sailing in Abu Dhabi will unfold for spectators, and a worldwide ISAF television audience of millions, in the waters around Lulu Island off the corniche.
Featuring eight of the ten classes chosen for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as well as kitesurfing, the ISAF Sailing World Cup has attracted more than 2,000 leading sailors from over 75 nations over its seven-year history.
The final in Abu Dhabi is organised by ISAF, the International Sailing Federation’s, and Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club (ADSYC), with the support of the UAE Sailing & Rowing Federation (UAE SARF), Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
From 11:00 BST to 15:30 BST (10:00 UTC to 14:30 UTC) on Sunday 14 June, live Medal Races from ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland will be broadcast worldwide on YouTube.
In addition, the Medal Races will be live on ESPN3 in the USA, BBC Red Button and online in Great Britain, Sky in New Zealand and Neo Sports in India.
It was a frustrating day for the competitors at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland with a mischievous breeze dancing across the British waters.
Constantly changing, a sailable breeze never truly materialised. The Race Committee team on the Men’s 470 and Men’s RS:X race courses managed to get one race apiece away but the remaining classes were left frustrated with no racing.
The young French team of Guillaume Pirouelle and Valentin Sipan managed to take the Men’s 470 race victory with an astute performance. They took the lead from the off and at one point had opened up a lead in excess of two minutes.
A chasing pack closed the gap and passed the French team but they held on tight to seal the bullet. “It was quite light and shifty,” explained Pirouelle. “We didn’t know what would happen but we managed to get a few things right. We had quite a good start. We tacked immediately to take a right shift and after that we stayed focus on the race.
“It’s quite complicated for us because it’s only our third year in the 470. It’s a big event for us as well because we’re racing against the big sailors and we have to sail well at all times.”
Taking a bullet in a fleet that features the world’s leading Men’s 470 sailors such as Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS), Luke Patience and Elliot Willis (GBR) and Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) does not come around that often.
Pirouelle was pleased to finish ahead of them but knows there are a lot of hours of hard work ahead to reach their level, “It’s amazing to see them and sail with them. They are very good and I hope we will be like them in the next few years. Tomorrow I think it will be more windy. We are quite good in strong wind. We have to sail fast and we will see what happens in the different conditions.”
The French team sit 16th overall and just ten points off the Medal Race positions. Three Men’s 470 are scheduled for Saturday 13 June with plenty of points to play for.
New Zealand’s Paul Snow Hansen and Daniel Willcox followed behind the French pair by 38 seconds to take second and remain in the hunt for top honours. They sit second, nine points off leaders Stu McNay and Dave Hughes (USA).
Those around them used up their drop but for the Kiwis, a disastrous result on the third day of competition could have dented their chances as Willcox explained following a large bite of a fully loaded chicken wrap after racing, “The first race of the regatta we were black flagged so since then we used our discard up and have had to keep our consistency and keep some good results under our belt. We’ve managed to do that and we look to do that going forward as well.”
The Kiwis worked their way up the fleet throughout the race, moving up the ranks from 12th to second. Willcox continued, “It was a pretty tricky race and very changeable from the start to finish. We kind of had a trend to the right, like the forecast model said and we had to deal with the right shift with the pressure as well.
“We did a pretty good job. There were lots of snakes and ladders throughout the race so we were keeping our boat point towards the mark and doing the simple things right and it paid off quite well so we’re happy.”
Americans McNay and Hughes recorded a 17th, which they use as their drop. They continue to lead on nine points followed by the Kiwis on 16 and Mat Belcher and Will Ryan on 20.
Nick Dempsey (GBR) took the bullet in the Men’s RS:X race and as a result moves up to top spot. Tom Squires drops down from first overall to second following a sixth, which he discards.
Mattia Camboni (ITA) retains third overall but Brazil’s Ricardo Santos remains hot on his heels and is just two points off.
Three Men’s RS:X races are scheduled for the penultimate day of competition.
The action is scheduled to commence at 10:30 local time on Saturday 13 June for the penultimate day of the competition.
Video
Medal Races will be live from ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland on Sunday 14 June from 11:00 local time.
URL – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ8hlJyeqxk
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The ISAF World Sailing Rankings for 2 February 2015 have been released.
• Top 30 in each Olympic event receive ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères invitations;
• ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, a 200-point regatta, ensures significant changes across the ten Olympic events;
• New World #1 in the Women’s 470. No change at World #1 across nine other fleets.
Laser
By his own standards, Tom Burton (AUS) was off the pace at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, finishing down in 18th. However with a number of medal winning performances already behind him, he holds on to World #1.
Philipp Buhl (GER) claimed the World Cup Miami title but only after his nearest rival Nick Thompson (GBR) suffered an equipment malfunction that allowed the German to pass in the Medal Race. Buhl’s victory gave him the full 200-points and he leapfrogs up from World #30 to World #7.
Thompson meanwhile moves up to World #2 as Robert Scheidt (BRA) slips to World #3.
Miami was a vital regatta for all of the competitors with valuable ranking points up for grabs. A top performance would prove significant and that was certainly the case for the 14th placed Jesper Stalheim (SWE) and the eighth placed Rutger van Schaardenburg (NED).
Stalheim picked up 175 points whilst van Schaardenburg received 186. They move back into the top 30 at World #20 and #21 respectively, securing an invitation to ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères.
Alex Mills Barton (GBR) and Kristian Ruth (NOR) also sneak into the top 30 at World #29 and World #30.
Several 50-point regattas across the world also see chops and changes in the middle of the rankings.
Isaf Youth Worlds_Day 3_Laser-07 ISAF Media Library
Laser Radial
There is no change to the leading Laser Radial trio with the Miami podium finishers all solidifying their top position. Bronze medallist Marit Bouwmeester (NED) sits at World #1, silver medallist Evi Van Acker (BEL) is at World #2 and Anne Marie Rindom (DEN), Miami gold medallist, completes the top three.
There are plenty of movers and shakers below them with the 200-point ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami and several 50-point regattas ensuring so. With the top 30 receiving invitations to ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères, the fight for position in Miami was fierce.
Alison Young (GBR) moves back into the top 30 after a busy period of racing. Wins at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and Sail Sydney combined with a ninth at the ISAF Worlds and a fourth at the Sailing World Cup Final had left her at World #38. A hard fought fifth in Miami pushes her back into the top places and she sits at World #18.
At the cut off point for Hyères invitations, Joyce Floridia (ITA) and Fernanda Decnop (BRA) both move into the top 30, counting the key points they secured at World Cup Miami. For Paloma Schmidt (PER), a 45th in Miami was not enough to solidify her position in the top 30 and she misses out by four points.
Finn
Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) retained World #1 in the Finn following a silver medal performance at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami. The Croatian has three consecutive second place finishes to his name, ensuring a sublime haul of points.
Giles Scott (GBR) holds a perfect ranking score of 800 points after he extended his winning streak in Miami. However, the Briton only counts five regattas to his ranking whilst those around him count six. Scott is positioned at World #7.
Zsombor Berecz (HUN) moves back into the top 30 after he won gold at the 50-point Palamos Christmas Race at the back end of 2014. The current World #30 takes the final Hyères invitation. Palamos silver medallist Milan Vujasinovic (CRO) also moves into the top 30. He is at World #20.
49erFX
Having dominated the 49erFX over the last 12 months, Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) comfortably sit atop of the rankings on 988 points.
North American gold and a World Cup Miami bronze ensured their position was solidified and they are 69 points clear of World #2 Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen (DEN).
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) finished second at the Midwinters before sealing World Cup Miami gold with a day to spare. With the full 200 World Cup points coming their way they move up to World #3.
Interestingly, since the 49erFX’s first ranking release on 12 December 2012, there have only been two World #1s, the Brazilians and Kiwis. But as crews continue to master the equipment, they’ll look to spring some surprises on the road to Rio.
Tess Lloyd and Caitlin Elks (AUS) took the honours at the Oceanic Championship and continue to march up the rankings. They move up four places to World #14.
49er
ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami bronze was enough for Jonas Warrer and Anders Thomsen (DEN) to retain World #1 in the 49er. Joel Turner, sailing with Iain Jensen, picked up silver in Miami and as a result Turner moves from World #40 to World #18 and will receive a Hyères invitation for himself and usual crew Lewis Brake.
Turner came in for Nathan Outteridge who missed out on Miami competition for personal reasons. Jensen will revert back to sailing with his usual helm. Outteridge and Jensen sit at World #24 but only count four regattas to their point’s total.
Nico Delle Karth and Nikolaus Resch (AUT) put together a steady string of Miami results that ultimately handed them the title. They did not win a race across the series of 13 but 11 top ten performances gave them the edge. They remain at World #3.
A 23rd in Miami was enough for Federico and Arturo Alonso (ESP) to re-enter the top 30 at World #27. Jacapo Plazzi and Umberto Molineris (ITA) move to World #30 after a 31st in Miami. Both crews will receive invitations to ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères.
Men’s 470
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) retain World #1 in the Men’s 470 after two medal winning performances in Miami, USA. They claimed the North American title in advance of ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami but were made to settle for silver at the main event. They sit 25 points clear of World #2 Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE).
Luke Patience and Elliot Willis (GBR) finished behind the Australians at the 100-point North American regatta but had their revenge by securing a seven point victory at World Cup Miami. As a result they shift up to World #3.
Japan’s Tetsuya Matsunago and Yugo Yoshida are the big movers this month. The Japanese pair picked up bronze at the 470 North Americans before sealing a tenth at World Cup Miami. As a result, they have moved up to a personal best of World #5 from World #19.
Palamos Christmas Race silver medallists Guillaume Pirouelle and Valentin Sipan (FRA) sneak into World #30, thus securing an invitation to World Cup Hyères. At World #31 Antonio and Joao Rosa miss out on an automatic invitation by 24 points. Their chance to qualify will come at Princess Sofia Trophy regatta in Palma, Mallorca, Spain.
New Zealand’s Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie move back to World #1 in the Women’s 470 having dominated ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella. Taking the full 200-points the Kiwis are 99 points clear of Fernanda Oliveira and Ana Luiza Barbachan (BRA).
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) finished 27 points off the Kiwis in Miami, however with a silver medal coming their way they move up to World #7 from World #21.
Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar (AUT) took the gold at the 100-point North American Championship in advance of their ninth at the World Cup. They sit at World #11.
France’s Maelenn Lemaitre and Aloise Retornaz took 50-points away from the Palamos Christmas Race regatta at the end of 2014 and remain at World #24.
There are no shock entries into the top 30 after many of the leading teams used Miami to solidify their spot top 30 status.
Men’s RS:X
It was an up and down week in the Men’s RS:X, with consistency a rarity on Miami’s challenging track. Nonetheless, the form racers came to the forefront.
Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) claimed gold which promotes him up to World #13 from World #29. Silver for Thomas Goyard (FRA) moves him up to World #3 a personal best and bronze medallist Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) retains World #1.
Sebastian Fleischer (DEN), Joan Cardona Bocarando (ESP) and Ivan Pastor (ESP) all move into the top 30 after solid Miami performances and subsequently qualify for ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères.
The 100-point RS:X African Championship title went the way of Algeria’s Hamza Bouras. The Algerian moves up to World #105, a personal best.
Women’s RS:X
Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) holds on to World #1 in the Women’s RS:X in spite of a disappointing final day in Miami. The Italian was on the course side in the Medal Race and dropped out of the honours. Nonetheless her fourth place was enough for her to retain her position at the top of the rankings.
The Netherlands’ Lilian de Geus and Russia’s Olga Maslivets were major benefactors of Tartaglini’s downfall. De Geus took silver which pushes her up to World #4, a personal best, and Maslivets’ bronze sees her climb up to World #25 from World #38 to secure a Hyères invitation.
Bryony Shaw (GBR) claimed a comprehensive Miami victory, solidifying her spot at World #2.
Nacra 17
Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri (ITA) successfully defended their ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami title with a day to spare. By taking maximum points at the 200-point regatta they hold on to World #1.
Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves (GBR) took silver in Miami and remain at World #6. Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) sneaked onto the Miami podium and sit at World #2.
Mandy Mulder and Coen de Koning (NED) finished fourth, moving them back into the top 30
The opening day of racing at the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates has been described as spectacular, fantastic and perfect.
Smiles were present before racing at the Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club, on the waters off of the Corniche and around Lulu Island and back ashore upon the conclusion of racing.
A north westerly breeze that ranged between 9-14 knots greeted the sailors across the four race tracks. The outside courses saw big waves to add some spice to the sailors lives whilst the flat water on the inside Corniche course tested the sailors all round abilities.
Racing for the 270 sailors from 38 nations across the ten Olympic and open kiteboarding fleet commenced at 12:00 local time and wrapped up with a full complement of races in the Olympic events.
ISAF SAILING WORLD CUP
Finn
Slovenia’s Vasilij Zbogar was dominant in Abu Dhabi’s conditions, picking up a pair of race wins in the 19-boat Finn fleet.
After racing, ashore at the Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht, the Slovenian was visibly pleased yet shocked with his regatta opening, “I am a bit surprised with the two first places. It’s much better than I thought I would start. The conditions were perfect for my technique and weight and my boat speed was extremely good. The main issue was that I got a yellow flag in the first race which was a bit annoying but I still finished first.”
Zbogar’s victories came by different margins. A close encounter with Jake Lilley (AUS) in the opening race saw him take the victory by a narrow two seconds. He ramped it up in the second race, taking the gun by 30 seconds over Pieter Jan Postma (NED) and Zbogar wants to continue in the same way on the second day, “I hope we will have the same conditions. I will try to keep this first place until the end but I know it is going to be very hard. Today it was really nice sailing conditions and I’m looking forward to the next few days.”
Abu Dhabi is a new venue for the Slovenian and he has taken to it well, not only the sailing side but offshore as well, “Until now, Abu Dhabi has been a big surprise for me. Everybody was a bit sceptical at first, maybe the venue and the sailing conditions weren’t right but here we are and people are extremely helpful, everything is extremely well organised and the sailing is spectacular.
“I think all the sailors are really happy and they all see it’s a big step forward in Olympic classes.”
Lilley trails the Slovenia by five points in second place whilst Croatia’s Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic occupies third overall, a point behind Lilley.
image Credit Sailing Energy/ISAF.
49erFX
New Zealand’s Alex Maloney and Molly Meech started the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final with a bang by taking the opening race victory in the 17-boat 49erFX fleet.
The pair picked up a second victory in the third race of the day but a sandwiched tenth tarnishes their good start. Nonetheless the Kiwis had some great racing as Maloney explained, “It was beautiful conditions out there with a nice Abu Dhabi breeze and really nice waves. We were on Course C in front of the Emirates Palace and it was pretty nice out there. The first and last race we had 8-10 knots and it dropped down and got a bit interesting, it’s really nice racing out there.
“We were pretty disappointing with our performance at the Worlds but we had a good break and have had some good preparation for Abu Dhabi. We were in Rio for three weeks and we’re feeling a lot more confident again and a lot more focused.”
Whilst the Kiwis lead, it’s the Italian pairing of Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich who were the masters of consistency as they notched up a race win and a pair of seconds. They sit second overall by nature of the Kiwis discarding their tenth and Conti’s face was full of smiles after racing, “It was perfect, perfect conditions. There were 10-14 knots with good waves and we enjoyed it a lot. We had good results and that’s why we enjoyed it a lot.
“We felt very comfortable with the boat. It’s good to have a brand new boat as we used to sail with a pretty old one so there are a lot of differences in performance. It’s just perfect to escape from winter and to be here, we love it.”
Conti was also full of praise for everything she has seen thus far at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, “We are staying in such a beautiful hotel and the people here are just so gentle and kind. They’re so curious about sailing as well. The venue is just perfect. There is plenty of space so we can move around without having the problem of touching other boats. The weather is warm and there is a huge mall right here, it has everything. I would stay here the whole winter.”
Sweden’s Lisa Ericson and Hanna Klinga complete the podium after the opening day but it’s still early stages in the competition with six fleet races to follow ahead of the Medal Race.
49er
Captain America and Superman’s Polish alias’ Tomasz Januszewski and Jacek Nowak have swooped in to Abu Dhabi to take the 49er lead on the opening day of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.
The pair picked up two races wins and a 13th, discarding the latter to top the bill in the 18-boat 49er fleet. They lead Great Britain’s Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign by a single point, “It’s great to be here and race here with the best of the best,” commented Nowak. “We were on Course D so we were inside the bay and the wind was inshore so there was a lot of shifts and gusts. It was good to have great speed and to be able to read the shifty conditions. All the teams were very close to each other throughout the races.”
The Polish competitors are instantly recognisable on the race track with their superhero outfits and Januszewski explained the origin of their tops, “We are co-operating with under armour, so when the t-shirts went on sale our friend gave us a couple of them.
“He asked who we would like to be and I was just like, stop there, ‘I want to be Captain America’, because I love that superhero and Jack loves Superman.
“After we first wore them everybody has called us Superman and Captain America,” continued Januszewski with a beaming smile, “They’re defending someone’s honour and ambitions so we like those and they’re really friendly, they’re not bad guys.
“It’s a good way to show potential sponsors what we can do and how many opportunities we can give them.”
The racing on the 49er race course was exceptionally close with little separation of the fleet across three races. Fletcher and Sign picked up the first race victory before finishing second behind the Polish sailors in the second. The Brits did not sail the third race due to an equipment issue as the Polish sailors swooped through to take their second race win and the lead.
Januszewski and Nowak are in a good spot to progress with six fleet races and a Medal Race remaining and will be looking to draw on their super strength from within, “With any power you can achieve anything,” said Januszewski, “but if we were to have a power I think we’ll take super speed.”
image Credit Sailing Energy/ISAF.
Women’s RS:X
Great Britain’s Bryony Shaw stole the show in the Women’s RS:X taking three consecutive race victories to hold a steady lead over her rivals at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The British racer, who won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, was in exceptional form, mastering the conditions and ruling the waves on one of the outside course areas.
“We were out on Course C today so we had quite a bit of swell and waves,” said Shaw. “The wind was between 10 and 13 knots and I was pleased to be sailing fast.”
Shaw proved to be a class above the rest as she read the conditions perfectly to lead at the first mark in all of the races as she explained, “I got a good start in the first race but not such a good start in the second race. The wind had just started flicking to the right so I made a gain from going to the right in that race. The first two races I rounded first and was able to extend my lead.
“In the last race we had lighter winds. I had a great start by the committee boat and really good height and speed and managed to round first again. It was quite a physical race that one. I kept it quite simple and stayed between my competitors and the mark and managed to win that third race. It was a really good day.”
With 270 sailors from 38 nations competing in Abu Dhabi, the British sailor is just one of many competitors who are revelling in the Emirati capital. With a blend of old traditions in a modern metropolis there is plenty for the sailors to learn and enjoy, both on and off the water, “I’ve tried to immerse myself in the culture and we’ve been going out for dinners and the people here seem really friendly,” added Shaw. “The conditions today were fantastic. To be sailing out there in board shorts and for it to be warm, sunny and to be sailing in planing conditions is the best for windsurfing. I’ve had a great time here so far. It’s been a short regatta for them to try and set up but it’s going well.”
China’s Qiaoshan Weng is second overall following a third, second and a discarded 14th. Charline Picon (FRA), 2014 Women’s RS:X World Champion, is third overall after an up and down day that included a second, a fourth and a discarded 14th place finish.
Men’s RS:X
Youngsters Pawel Tarnowski (POL) and Louis Giard (FRA) are showing their experienced counterparts how to race in Abu Dhabi as they top the bill in the Men’s RS:X fleet.
Tarnowski, 20-years-old, stormed into the lead following an exceptional day on the water. He amassed two race wins and a third and holds a two point advantage over Giard, 21-years-old, who took a pair of seconds and a third.
The youngsters lead their more experienced rivals but only time will tell if they are able to continue it through for a podium finish on Sunday 30 November.
image Credit Sailing Energy/ISAF.
Laser Radial
Tuula Tenkanen (FIN) is in control in the 18-boat Laser Radial pack. She picked up a fourth and a first to hold a five point advantage over Alison Young (GBR) going into the second day of competition.
Young has had some time away from the boat throughout 2014 and is happy to be back, competing against the best Laser Radial sailors in Abu Dhabi, “It’s been great fun racing against all the great sailors that are here this week. I’m here this week to learn as much as possible. There are 18 great sailors here so every race is really tight and every point counts.
“It was such tight racing today out on the water with boats crossing the line in packs and I expect that will be a similar story for the rest of the regatta.”
London 2012 bronze medallist Evi Van Acker (BEL) completes the podium at the early stage of the event.
Laser
World #1 Tom Burton (AUS) showed his worth in Abu Dhabi by grasping the Laser lead after the opening day of racing. Burton was strong on the race track and took a fifth and a bullet and was pleased after racing, “It was pretty solid day all around,” commented Burton, “The top guys are all here and with the 20 boat fleet you can’t afford to have a bad race because the guys that will win this regatta, won’t do that so you won’t have a chance to catch up.”
Pavlos Kontides (CYP) took the first race win but an 11th in the second race relegated him down to fifth overall.
ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao gold medallist Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) is tied on points with Burton in second whilst Nick Thompson (GBR) occupies third.
image Credit Sailing Energy/ISAF.
Men’s and Women’s 470
It was business as usual for World Champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) in the Men’s 470. The pair strolled into pole position following a 2-4 scoreline. Greece’s Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis are second on eight points with Austria’s David Bargehr and Lukas Mahr in third on ten points.
The day’s race wins went the way of Stu McNay and David Hughes (USA) who are sixth overall and fifth placed Matthias Schmid and Florian Florian Reichsteaedter (AUT).
China’s Shasha Chen and Haiyan Gao and Austria’s Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar shared places one and two in the Women’s 470 and are tied atop of the 11-boat fleet on three points.
Very little separated the two teams on the opening day and they will do battle once again on the second day with two more races scheduled.
America’s Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha are third overall on 10 points, seven off the leading duo but there is plenty of time for change.
Nacra 17
It’s an all French top three in the Nacra 17 with World Champions Billy Besson and Marie Riou leading the way. Besson and Riou are seemingly unstoppable in the Nacra 17 and amassed a steady scoreline that featured two seconds and a race win.
Their compatriots Audrey Ogereau and Matthieu Vandame follow in second with Moana Vaireaux and Manon Audinet in third.
Matias Buhler and Nathalie Brugger (SUI), Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri (ITA) and Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank (AUT) are hot on the French teams heals, tied on nine points.
image Credit Sailing Energy/ISAF.
Open Kiteboarding
Riccardo Leccese (ITA) came out on top on the opening day of kiteboarding after he picked up a pair of bullets. He heads into the next stage as top seed. 2014 World Champion Maxime Nocher (FRA), European and Open Asian Champion Oliver Bridge (GBR) and 2013 World Champion Florian Gruber (GER) follow in places 2-4.
The 20 competitors will be divided up for Stage 2 heats on Friday and Saturday based on their seeding from Stage 1. The top ten boats will then progress to the medal stage.
Two semi-finals will be held with five racers in each. Places 1 and 2 will carry forward ten points, 3 and 4 seven points, 5 and 6 five points, 7 and 8 four points and 9 and 10 three points. Two races in each semi-final will follow with the top two placed sailors in each heading to the final.
From there, it’s a four way single race shoot out for the podium spots.
Racing across the fleets is scheduled to commence at 12:00 local time on Friday 28 November.
With Olympic heroes and World Champions in their numbers at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, UAE, local children are being inspired to take up the sport.
By utilising the star names on show at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final, the Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club, hosts of the regatta, are using the event to promote the sport in the Emirati capital.
Sofia Bekatorou and Konstantinos Trigonis (GRE) are two of the most experienced and decorated sailors competing at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final. Between the pair they have two Olympic medals, seven Olympic appearances and 11 World Championship medals. Impeccable accolades.
The pair are competing in the Nacra 17 at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and in advance of competition they visited one of the local schools in Abu Dhabi to tell their story from junior sailing to the heights of the Olympic Games.
Bekatorou and Trigonis with Abu Dhabi Sailing Club representatives and Al Muna Primary School pupils
One of the principles of Bekatorou and Trigonis’ campaign is to inspire youngsters and in front of several hundred children ranging from ages 5-9 they presented their journey from their humble beginnings, “If I can be responsible for making kids go to the sailing club and try then I really feel successful, that is the main thing,” explained Bekatorou. “I used to share my medal because I want kids to feel it and see it so they can be really inspired, the way I was. I was inspired by a poster. I remember Nadia Comăneci and the perfect ten. When I was running in the gym I was looking at this poster and I was thinking, one day I want to be like this. I believe that at some stage, if you’re a kid, you get some people who impact you and they can change your life.
“I wish that I can be the reason why some people get in the sea and sail.”
Bekatorou and Trigonis subsequently received questions from the children, interacting with them and teaching them about the sport of sailing and hearing about their involvement. The Greek duo recalled their time as youngsters within the sport which Bekatorou now looks back fondly on, “Our inner motivation is mostly to be able to inspire the new generation and show them you are never born an Olympic medallist or a World Champion.
“The principle is, you start having a dream, you see something and you feel you want to achieve it. You need to use the chances you get in life and create chances for yourself in order to follow your dream.
“One of the basic things today with the kids was that we started at their age when we were 8 and 9 years old. It was the love of our parents that brought us into the sailing clubs and the fact that we were having a really great time at the club every weekend inspired us and is the reason why we went back and back to have fun.”
Bekatorou had the dream of competing at the Olympic Games and achieved the goal at Sydney 2000 where she finished 14th in the Women’s 470. Four years later on her home waters in Athens, Greece, she claimed Olympic gold to become the darling of the nation. Four years later she claimed Yngling bronze at Beijing 2008 and with four world titles to her name she is one of the most successful female sailors of all time.
Konstantinos Trigonis speaks to the youngsters
Like Bekatorou, Trigonis also had the Olympic dream and made his Olympic debut at Atlanta 1996 where he finished 11th in the Men’s 470. He claimed eighth at Sydney 2000 and 18th at Athens in the Men’s 470 before making the switch to multihulls and campaigning in the Tornado. A tenth at Beijing 2008 followed before he took five consecutive Tornado worlds medals, three of which were gold.
Bekatorou and Trigonis teamed up at the turn of 2014 and with distinguished careers behind them they will be passing on all they can to encourage young sailors from not only Abu Dhabi, but across the world, “Through our long careers of 25 years with a lot of international competition, the basic line is we got to know a lot of different places and make friends. We feel that every challenge, we can meet what is needed to move forward.
“We are not stopped by difficulties and by things that seem impossible. We really wanted to try and invest our potential and strengths and to try to give our best and our view of sailing.
“If I could compare sailing to other sports I would say the main advantage is that it combines physical ability and conditioning together with a lot of brain activity. It’s like playing chess on a field that is always changing with variables.
“You can do it all of your life and it gives you the possibility to adapt to new conditions and try to get the best out of it. As a main concept and an attitude it makes you stronger as a person. That’s why we strongly believe that this sport is a very good platform for kids.”
Sofia Bekatorou answers a young girls question
The Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club puts emphasis on getting Emirati children sailing on the Abu Dhabi waters off of the stunning Corniche.
As the children get involved in the sport and progress through the stages they have the chance to represent their school in a series of races across the year. By competing against other schools it encourages school spirit and enhances the sailors’ progression.
Since the concept was introduced in 2012 more than 300 young sailors from more than ten schools have participated and grown within the program. Utilising the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and the Volvo Ocean Race stopover that follows the numbers are expected to rise over the years.
World #1 Laser sailor Tom Burton (AUS), 2010 Women’s Match Racing World Champion Kate Macgregor (GBR), London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Mat Belcher (AUS), Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Shaw (GBR) and 2013 49erFX World Champion Alex Maloney (NZL) are expected to visit more local schools as the week progresses. With impressive stories behind all of them they will also help to inspire the new generation of UAE sailors.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 1-1 Photo credit ISAF
Racing kicked off at the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 with the Finn and RS:X fleets taking to two race courses on Guanabara Bay.
The day began with a press briefing that saw over 120 national and international journalists, broadcasters and photographers turn up to witness the first Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Test Event first hand.
At the briefing the attendees included Rio 2016 Executive Director of Sport, Agberto Guimaraes, Rio2016 Director of Sports, Rodrigo Garcia, Rio 2016 Director of Communications, Mario Andrada, ISAF Technical Delegate Alastair Fox and London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Mat Belcher (AUS).
Initiatives to improve water quality were explained – read more here – and an outline of the event, the largest ever Olympic classes’ regatta held in Brazil, was given.
During the press briefing Belcher said, “We’re really excited to be here. It’s the first time we’ve been here and we’re really impressed with the venue, the organisers and what sort of event we can expect for our class.
“It’s a big opportunity for the athletes to enjoy the environment, get an understanding as to what we can expect in a few years’ time, the currents, geographical effects and what type of wind we can expect.”
Once the briefing concluded attention turned to the racing action. A south easterly breeze coming in at 8-12 knots ensured that two races were completed in all three fleets.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 1-2 Photo credit ISAF
Men’s RS:X
London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) was on scintillating form in the 28-boat Men’s RS:X fleet and took both the day’s race victories.
Racing on Pão de Açúcar the Dutchman read the conditions perfectly to lead Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) who sits second on five points following a 2-3.
On the course the Dutchman said, “We were on one of the inside courses and close to Flamengo Beach. There’s a little bit more breeze towards the middle of the bay so I just tried to find the breeze and go fast.
“It’s not too crazy. The wind was light’ish so it was tricky but still fun and plenty of opportunities.
“You have to put a lot of work into racing. There’s a lot of pumping but once you pump it pays off if you go the right way so it’s key.”
With 28 racers on the water it’s not far off the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition fleet size. In two years’ time 36 racers will take to water and van Rijsselberge is enjoying the similarities, “We have a really nice fleet here. That’s the biggest plus. Everybody is here and it’s a strong field. I think it’s a really good test. We have the top ten from the last World Championship so it’s a high quality. That shows that everybody wants to see how it is and try to get the best out of it.”
Rio de Janeiro provides a beautiful backdrop to the fleets and the Dutchman enjoys his surroundings, “It’s nice to have two big monuments here. The Sugarloaf is a little bit in the way, it stops the breeze,” smiled Van Rijsselberge. “But it’s interesting and we’re enjoying it. The scenery is really nice.”
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 1-3. Photo credit ISAF
Women’s RS:X
Charline Picon (FRA) imitated Dorian van Rijsselberge’s (NED) performance by taking both bullets in the Women’s RS:X.
Picon has Rio experience under her belt and used the information she’s gathered on the opening day to lead Maayan Davidovich (ISR) by three points.
“The first race I had a very bad start but I finished first so I’m very happy,” beamed Picon. “I had a good downwind and good tactics. In the second I didn’t have a good start but I had a good battle at the top and finished second behind Marina [Alabau].
“We’ve had a good time here and came here last year and we were here in the winter and it’s very pleasant for competing. It’s nice to have Sugarloaf and everything around us.”
Brazil’s Patricia Freitas recorded two fourth places and is third overall on eight points.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 1-4 Photo credit ISAF
Finn
Brazil’s Jorge Zarif used his knowledge of Guanabara Bay to his advantage on the opening day of Finn racing as he took a bullet and a second.
The 21-year-old first took to the bay when he was seven years and having trained regularly inside and outside of the bay he came to the forefront on the opening day.
“It was a good day,” said Zarif, 2013 Finn World Champion. “I’ve sailed here since I was seven in the Optimist but seriously I’ve been training here a lot for the last four or five years. Especially in the Naval School Course because it’s the one we will use more but we always sail by the bridge and outside.”
Seventeen Finns will mix up racing on the Ponte course which is inside the bay and Niteroi, outside of the bay. Rio 2016 will see 23 take to water and Zarif is relishing racing in conditions that will be present in 2016, “I like the fleet size because the Olympics will be like this. It’s close to what we will have and normally I don’t have good starts in big fleets so for me it’s better to have fewer boats.”
Ed Wright (GBR) sits second overall on six points with Race 2 winner Giles Scott (GBR) third overall.
Racing in the Finn and RS:X resumes on 4 August at 13:00 whilst the remaining seven fleets kick off racing. All five race courses will be used on the second day of racing.
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