July 31, 2006

'Schotka' and a Kiwi show way in light wind

MARINA DEL REY, Calif.—There were two big winners Monday in the women's corner of the 2006 Laser Radial World Championships, and they came from different worlds. Jo Aleh, 20, of New Zealand, a near novice at this level despite her No. 6 ranking, won both races in the Blue fleet while three-time world champion Katarzyna Szotynska, 26, of Poland may have launched her career comeback with a 1-2 in the Yellow fleet. With eight of 12 races still remaining through Friday, Szotynska is now in third place, while Aleh jumped from 21st to eighth. Anna Tunnicliffe, the class's No. 2-ranked competitor from Florida, sailed a quiet 3-7 day that was enough to break out of a first-place tie into a one-point lead over France's
Solenne Brain (No. 16), who was 2-3 on the day. No. 1-ranked and defending champion Paige Railey, 19, of Florida sailed a 10th and a ninth Monday---not yet dominant but good enough to keep her solidly among the leaders. Brazil's Fabio Pillar moved into the men's lead by winning the last race as first-day leader Steven Krol of The Netherlands suffered 20th and 15th places. To ease congestion, the 89 women entrants are being divided into Blue and Yellow fleets with separate starts for the first three days of qualifying races, with the fleets shuffled daily to balance the competition. Then, according to the standings, the top half will advance into the last six races over the last three days as the Gold fleet, going for the world title. The lower half becomes the Silver fleet. Both will carry over their qualifying results. Winds were a painfully light 6-8 knots, even lighter than opening day Sunday, but Aleh and Katarzyna had the magic touch on their tillers. Szotynska, who answers to the nickname "Schotka," dominated the women's Laser Radials with successive global titles from 2001 to 2003 before it was declared an Olympic class beginning with the competition at Qingdao, China in 2008. She came into this event ranked a modest 15th. "It wasn't as competitive then as it is now," she said. "There were only 50 girls in the fleet. Before I was good sailing in heavy wind, but now I'm better when it's light. I'm much better than I used to be. I knew I'd have to get better if I wanted to go to the Olympics." By contrast, Aleh said, "I'm just starting international sailing. I was second in the Youth Worlds two years ago." She also was ninth and 21st in two previous Worlds before and after the class's Olympic leap. So how did she solve the fluky nuances of Santa Monica Bay Monday? "I didn't have a strategy," she said. "I was just sailing, getting the shifts and the pressure. It changes every beat." And, of course, all eyes are on Railey. "It's pretty tricky out there," she said. "The wind fills in but sometimes at the wrong time in the wrong place. It changes very upwind leg. You think you have it figured out and then you don't. "So far I've been conservative . . . just gotta get my scores better, maybe sail a bit more aggressively. I've got to step it up." Fair warning for the rest of the fleet.  

The Laser Radial Worlds are supported by sponsors Nestlé, producer of Arrowhead Water and PowerBar©; Vanguard Boats, Sailing World Magazine, Body Glove and the John B. and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Foundation. Their Web sites may be accessed through the logos in this release.

Class leaders (after 4 of 12 races): WOMEN'S RADIAL WORLDS 1. Anna Tunnicliffe, Florida (3-1-3-7), 14. 2. Solenne Brain, France (6-2-2-5), 15. 3.  Katarzyna Szotynska, Poland (12-7-1-2), 22. 4. Paige Railey, Florida (2-5-10-8), 25. 5. Karin Soderstrom, Sweden (7-6-9-4), 26. MEN'S RADIAL WORLDS 1. Fabio Pillar, Brazil (15-12-5-1), 33. 2. Steven Krol, The Netherlands (2-1-20-15), 38. 3. Jesse Kirkland, Bermuda (1-19-27-3), 50. 4. Steven Le Fevre, The Netherlands (4-4-1-41), 50. 5. Colin Cheng, Singapore (25-13-11-4), 53.  

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