The 2015 Laser World Championship was the second opportunity for competitors in the Men’s One Person Dinghy to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.
Of the 46 places available on the Rio 2016 Laser startline, nine were up for grabs at the 2015 Worlds which were held in Kingston, Canada from 2-8 July 2015. The first qualification regatta, the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships saw 24 nations secure a spot in Rio.
The nine nations to qualify for Rio 2016 from the 2015 Laser Worlds (in nation order) are:
1. Argentina
2. Chile
3. Estonia
4. Hungary
5. Korea
6. Montenegro
7. Peru
8. South Africa
9. Spain
Across a testing 13 race series in Canada, Nick Thompson (GBR) came out on top to take his first Laser world championship title. Philipp Buhl (GER) and Tom Burton (AUS) finished in second and third respectively.
Nine Laser Rio 2016 Spots Awarded At 2015 World Championship
As hosts, Brazil automatically receives a place on the start line. Eleven places will be awarded via a series of Continental Qualification Events sanctioned by ISAF, to finish by 1 June 2016 at the latest. The remaining two places in the Laser will be decided via the International Olympic Committee Tripartite Commission.
The inclusion for the first time by ISAF of Continental Qualification Events in the Qualification Pathway is an opportunity to develop sailing around the world and reflect the IOC Qualification System Principles. Key requirements of these Principles are to ensure the participation of the best athletes and ensure universality through continental representation.
The first day of racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland sprung a few surprises with an uncommon north eastern breeze testing the fleet.
Ranging from 10-15 knots, the breeze coupled with glorious British sunshine, resulted in some exceptional racing on the 2012 Olympic waters.
The stakes have been described as high by the competitors competing in Great Britain and rightly so with internal Rio qualification battles on-going, ISAF Sailing World Cup honours, a share of the prize fund and Abu Dhabi Final spots up for grab.
Racing commenced at 11:00 local time and wrapped up early evening with the ten Olympic, three Paralympic and Kiteboarding events completing their race schedule.
ISAF SAILING WORLD CUP
Laser
New Zealand’s Andy Maloney came out with intent in the Laser, taking the day one lead with a strong performance as he explained, “We had good breeze between 10 and 15 knots. It was pretty shifty on the course but I had good pace and played the shifts and managed to come away with a first and second which is pretty solid. It was a good day.”
The Road to Rio is a hard one and as well as international threats, Maloney also has to contend with domestic rivals on his journey. With the likes of his compatriots Sam Meech, Mike Bullot and Thomas Saunders all capable of challenging for medals, Maloney feels no internal pressure, “It’s good for us and the Australians to have a good squad and we’re all pushing each other hard.
“It’s exciting more than anything now in the Laser because it’s coming down to the final part of the cycle so it’s crunch time now.”
Yachting New Zealand named six crews for the Olympic Test Event on 18 May – see release here – . And as stated, will consider nominations the Laser following the World Cup Weymouth and Portland. A good performance by Maloney could go a long way for selection with Bullot in 15th, Saunders 20th and Sam Meech 21st after the opening day.
Nick Thompson (GBR) was not far off of Maloney’s pace, finishing behind him in both races to sit in second.
London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Pavlos Kontides (CYP) was almost as strong in Weymouth and Portland’s conditions as he did so well three years prior. A seventh and a fourth puts him third overall but he’s got his eye on the top, “I’m satisfied with my performance and races today but there’s still a long way to go and I hope to move up. Having 40 top guys with this new ISAF World Cup, the stakes are high.
“You have to push to the end and every race counts. You can win this event without winning any races. Consistency will prove vital in the end.”
The day’s remaining race win went the way of Jesper Stalheim (SWE) who is fourth overall.
Laser Radial
The last time Marit Bouwmeester (NED), Evi Van Acker (BEL) and Annalise Murphy (IRL) competed against each other at Weymouth and Portland they were locked in a battle for Olympic medals.
Fast forward three years and they’re fighting it out again at the ISAF Sailing World Cup.
Marit Bouwmeester (NED) was assertive on the race course, winning both races by a comfortable margin. The Dutch sailor, who won silver at London 2012, sits atop the pile with Evi Van Acker, London 2012 bronze medallist, trailing on five points following a 3-2 scoreline.
Murphy came through in second in the opening race and followed it up with a sixth in Race 2. She is third on eight points.
Great Britain’s Alison Young sits fourth on 13 points.
On the face of the 49er results it would be quick to assume that leaders Lukasz Przybytek and Pawel Kolodzinski (POL) were the stand out performers of the day. However, regattas aren’t won on the first they. It takes a consistent performance across five days of racing to come out on top and the most consistent team of the day were the first placed John Pink and Stu Bithell (GBR).
The pair recorded a 8-3-9 scoreline and were the only team to record three single digit scores. “On the first day of the regatta it’s always nice to start well and we’re thrilled to bits with three top tens. We’re fifth overall which is great and tomorrow brings another challenge because it’s going to be windy and we’ll be pushing on and hopefully get into that top three.
“It’s a great fleet, the top boats in the world are here and no one is really missing. It’s great that everyone is competing in the ISAF Sailing World Cup.”
Bithell won silver in the Men’s 470 at London 2012 and on his home waters he knows what the venue is all about, “You could argue that I know Weymouth fairly well,” he said with a smile. “I’ve lived here for some years now, did the Olympic Games here and is there a home advantage,” he pondered, “yes there probably is but incidentally we don’t always get the wind direction we had today.”
The Polish crew lead on seven points with Pink and Bithell four points off the leaders. Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) and Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign (GBR) are tied on 8 points in second and third.
Maiken Foght Schutt and Anne-Julie Schutt (DEN) lead the way in the 49erFX on three points following scores of 6-2-1. Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) follow in second place on six points.
Sarah Steyaert and Aude Compan (FRA), Tamara Echegoyen and Berta Betanzos (ESP) and Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) are tied on seven points from third to fifth.
Men’s and Women’s RS:X
It’s a British 1-2 in the Men’s RS:X and Women’s RS:X. Nick Dempsey and Tom Squires are locked on three points apiece in the men’s whilst Isobel Hamilton leads Bryony Shaw by a single point in the women’s.
From three races Dempsey and Squires took a race victory each with the third place Mattia Camboni (ITA) taking the other.
“We had nice racing, very close,” exclaimed Dempsey. “Tom and I are quicker than the fleet. Our training’s gone really well and we’re starting to sail well. It’s nice and quite good fun racing.”
The pair train together on a daily basis which has helped them in the build-up to the regatta as Dempsey explained, “It’s nice having a competitive training partner. When we train we know we’re training against one of the fastest people in the world.
“You never have to compensate. If you’re beating Tom then you know you’re going fast. That is what we’ve always missed having with our training partners so it’s brilliant news.”
“It’s nice and quite good fun racing Tom.”
In the Women’s RS:X, Hamilton enjoyed a solid day on the water, staying at the front of the pack notching up a 6-2-2 scoreline. “It was definitely my best first day at a World Cup so far,” said the smiling Hamilton, “I would love to be able to hold on to first for the whole week.
“It was really good racing and it’s really nice to be racing at home. Weymouth is a fantastic venue and it’s really great to be back here.”
Shaw is a point off of Hamitlon after her 4-1-4 with London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Tuuli Petaja-Siren third overall. The day’s race wins went to Joanna Sterling (AUS), Shaw and Ingrid Puusta (EST).
Andrew Murdoch (NZL) opened his Weymouth and Portland account with a strong display in the Finn, notching up a 3-2 to lead the 24-boat fleet.
Murdoch, a 2012 OIympian in the Laser, used his experience to full effect at the front of the fleet. He has opened up a four point lead over Jonathan Lobert (FRA).
Giles Scott (GBR) took the opening race victory of the day and followed it up with a 12th. He is third overall. The remaining race victory went the way of Josh Junior (NZL) who is sixth overall but just three points off the third placed Scott.
Men’s and Women’s 470
It’s like London 2012 repeated in the Women’s 470 with the gold and silver medallists occupying the spots they claimed three years ago.
Gold medallists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) dominated the day by taking both bullets whilst silver Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) were forced to look at the back of the Kiwi boat in both races as they settled for two seconds.
Tina Mrak and Veronika Macarol (SLO) sit in third after the opening two races following a 4-3.
In the Men’s 470, Stu McNay and David Hughes (USA) have a tasty six point lead over World #1 Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE). A fourth and a second gives them the lead at the early stage but with their experience, they won’t be getting carried away.
Victories on the day went to the Greeks and Ferdinand Gerz and Oliver Szymanski (GER) who are sixth overall.
Nacra 17
As of 19:20 local time Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank (AUT) lead the way in the Nacra 17. However, many of the competitors sailed the wrong course in Race 1 with Race Committee protests and vice versa. A handful of protests remain open that may result in further amendments.
As it stands the Austrians top the pile on four points followed by Matias Buhler and Nathalie Brugger (SUI) and Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (AUS).
Paralympic Events
London 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas (GBR) began her World Cup campaign with intent. Double bullets give her a two point lead over Antonio Squizzato (ITA) who finished directly behind the Briton in both of the days races.
Malaysia’s Al Mustakim Matrin sits in third overall.
In the SKUD18, Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti (ITA) and Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR) are level on three points.
The Italian and British teams shared the top two places on the day, taking a bullet and a second apiece.
Will Street and Megan Pascoe (GBR) are third overall.
It is tight at the top in the Sonar with four crews locked on five points.
Norway’s Aleksander Wang-Hansen, Marie Solberg and Per Eugen Kristiansen took the opening bullet of the day and followed it up by a fourth.
John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas (GBR) took the second bullet of the day but like the Norwegians also count a fourth.
Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden (AUS) and John Twomey, Austrin O’Carroll and Ian Costelloe (IRL) notched up a second and a third each and are also tied with the Norwegian and Irish crews.
Racing resumes at 11:00 local time on Thursday 11 July with some great race action on the cards.
Pavlos Kontides (CYP) competing today, 01.08.12, in the Men’s One Person Dinghy (Laser) event in The London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.
The ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, UAE will welcome the high flyers in the Laser and Laser Radial with every racer eyeing up victory.
Sailors in the 20-boat Laser and 17-boat Laser Radial fleets will be gunning for gold at the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup Final from 26-30 November 2014. A shortened format of six fleet races, with one discard, and a single Medal Race will ensure close racing with sailors aiming to keep mistakes at a minimum.
World #1 Tom Burton (AUS) will head to the Emirati Capital with one thing on his mind, victory. Burton has consistently proven himself at the highest levels, taking gold at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca and Hyeres. The Australian knows how to win from the front and comeback from near disaster.
At the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao Burton had a weak start, finishing down the pack in both races but like a true champion he moved up the leader board day by day to claim a well-earned bronze.
His performance in Qingdao was an eye opener and with six weeks in-between regattas he has had time to get back into the groove, “I wasn’t really happy with the way I sailed [in Qingdao],” commented Burton. “If you’re not on your game, it doesn’t matter who you are, you’ll get hurt. Going into Abu Dhabi, Melbourne and the Australian summer I’ve got a few things to work on that’s for sure.”
Sailors make many sacrifices in life to compete and Burton has certainly made one for the opportunity to compete against the best of the best in Abu Dhabi, “It should be good racing and hopefully I’ll go well. It’s the same time as my sister’s wedding so I’ve got to give a shout out to her and say thanks for letting me go to Abu Dhabi.”
World #3 Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) came out on top in Qingdao and goes into Abu Dhabi with a good year under his belt. He took gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami at the turn of the year and followed it up victory at the Laser European Championship. A disappointing 21st at the Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds set the Croatian back but Qingdao gold followed to give him confidence in advance of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.
London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Pavlos Kontides (CYP) has been a consistent contender for ISAF Sailing World Cup honours over the last 18 months. However he has been unable to turn his consistent, meticulous and precise racing into gold. At ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao he missed out on gold in a tense battle with Stipanovic but he can see gold on the horizon, potentially at Abu Dhabi, “I was disappointed not to win gold in Qingdao, it was really near. I’ve been trying many years now to win gold, I have many silvers but I will keep on fighting and I’m sure if I keep sailing the way I’ve been sailing then gold is pretty near.
Evi Van Acker (BEL) competing today, 01.08.12, in the Women’s One Person Dinghy (Laser Radial) event in The London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.
“I’m really looking forward to Abu Dhabi because we expect stable conditions there and it will be very tactical from the start and speed wise. Every mistake will count so you just can’t make mistakes.
“If you want to be good in Abu Dhabi then you’ll have to sail at the top of your game.”
The Laser fleet features the highest performers with numerous World Championship medals and Olympic appearances within the pack. Further competition will come from Jean Baptise Bernaz (FRA), Nick Thompson (GBR), Rutger Van Schaardenburg (NED), Andy Maloney (NZL), Sam Meech (NZL), Gustavo Lima (POR), Jesper Stalheim (SWE) and Charlie Buckingham (USA). All of the fleet have the capabilities and skillset to take gold but with the stakes and pressure high the game is wide open.
The 17-boat Laser Radial fleet is packed full of Olympic, World and World Cup medallists. They will all battle it out for the right to become the first ISAF Sailing World Cup Final Laser Radial champion.
Nine of the world’s top ten Laser Radial racers will compete in Abu Dhabi with very little separating the bunch over recent regattas.
London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Evi van Acker (BEL) heads to the Emirates in excellent form. She claimed ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres gold in April and followed it up with bronze at the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 and at the Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds. The Belgian World #2 knows how to hit the front of the pack and will be looking to lay down an early marker when racing commences.
Croatia’s Tina Mihelic has had a solid 14 months of racing. She claimed her first World Championship title in the Laser Radial in September 2013 and has silvers from the European Championship and ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao under her belt.
With some time back home in her native Split in Croatia the World #5 is hoping to peak come race day one, “I’ll do some training before Abu Dhabi and I hope I’ll be in good shape,” commented Mihelic. “I’m looking forward to it and hope we’ll have nice conditions. It’s my first time there and I am going to enjoy it.”
As sailors continue their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition Mihelic sees the regattas as an integral part of the road to Rio as she concluded, “I think it’s really important because the top sailors are going there and for sure, it’s going to be fun.”
Josefin Olsson (SWE) picked up silver at the Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds and will also be in contention as will the experienced heads of Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR), Veronika Fenclova (CZE) and Paige Railey (USA) and the ever consistent Tuula Tenkanen (FIN), Dongshuang Zhang (CHN), Anne Marie Rindom (DEN) and Chloe Martin (GBR).
Laser racing is scheduled to commence at 12:00 local time on Thursday 27 November in Abu Dhabi. The Laser Radial will follow at 14:00.
Video
Tension Up, Show Us What You’re Made Of At The ISAF Sailing World Cup
URL – http://youtu.be/wela_F0_NNc
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