Two more races were sailed at the Laser Youth World Championships (U-21) in Kiel on Monday, in the Laser Standard (men) as well as the Laser Radial (women) – and in the women’s fleet, the World Champion is already set: after two more great races, Monika Mikkola only needs to avoid a DNE to be assured the Championship. In the men’s fleet, Jonatan Vadnai (Hungary) was able to defend his lead, but it is tight, with Joel Rodriguez only three points back.
While strong winds had been the norm for this regatta, where the lighter weight sailors were at a disadvantage, they now could benefit from the wind on Monday with six to nine knots (two to three beaufort) from North West. In the Men’s Gold fleet, the British sailor Jack Aitken sailed a fantastic first race. He started on the far left and was soon at the top of the fleet on the first upwind leg. When approaching the first mark, he was already leading by 100 metres and was able to increase his lead in undisturbed winds even more. In the end he was almost 200 meters ahead when he crossed the finish line. Ignacio Rodriguez from Uruguay finished second, which he had gained on the first downwind run. With an excellent performance on the second beat to windward, Kirill Evfimyevskiy (Russia) moved up into the top of the fleet and crossed the finish line as the third boat. Matteo Celon from Italy was fourth, followed by Joel Rodriguez (Spain), who is second overall in the regatta. From the other sailors in the top ten, only Nicolo’ Villa (Italy, place 8) finished in single digits.
After the start of the second race, which was successful in the first attempt again, with no recalls, the 72 starters of the gold fleet were spread evenly across the whole width of the race course. The top two sailors reached the windward mark at the same time: Frontrunner Jonatan Vadnai (Hungary) and Gianmarco Planchestainer (Italy). At the finish, Vadnai was first in front of Planchestainer. Joel Rodriguez was close to Vadnai from the beginning finished in third position. “It has been a good day for me”, Joel Rodriguez was satisfied in the afternoon about his two races. “I try to do the best in every wind.” The 18-year old from Gran Canaria started the Worlds weighing it at 80 kilogram. “Now I am weighing less”, he laughed. “Let’s see, how many races we are going to sail tomorrow. The forecast is not too promising”, said the second overall.
Jonatan Vadnai will begin the final day with a lead of three points. “No, I cannot look for him. I have to sail my own race”, said the sailor from the Lake Balaton. Nik Willim (Germany) had one over-early start and finished the other race in 12. position, but remains ranked at three. “It is a bit of a shame and puts me under pressure for tomorrow. I think I will get back to my conservative strategy”, said Willim.
Maud Jayet started the second to last race day as second-ranked in the Laser Radial. “The starts are my bad points”, said the 20-year old law student before going out to the race course. “I will try to make it better today – and then the race will be easier. We still have four races to go, much can change.” This was only true to a certain extent. Jayet dropped back in the ranking, to fifth, having finished 17 and 13. Today’s first race of the women was won by Maité Carlier from Belgium. In the second race she was also doing well until she made a mistake when tacking in the hustle: “I did not get hold of my toe strap and fell over board.” The 16th place finish is now her second discard – and she remains at third overall. The Greek sailor Vasileia Karachaliou can get rid of her early start from Sunday with her second discard. Karachaliou is now second, having finished fourth in both races. At the top of the fleet, Monika Mikkola from Helsinki (Finland) has dominated the regatta in all sailing conditions, and after a second and first today, stands well in front of competition. Her worst results have been a fifth and a sixth place.
The last two races in all groups (Standard gold and silver as well as Radial women) are scheduled for Tuesday, 11am. The prize giving ceremony will be in the afternoon.
The races of the gold fleet of the men can be watched live on the event website www.laserworldskiel2016.com (TV and tracking).
live tracking
live streaming
U-21 World Championship in the Laser Standard (men)
Interim ranking after 10 races (2 discards)
1. Jonatan Vadnei (Hungary), 16 points
2. Joel Rodriguez (Spain), 19 p.
3. Nik Aaron Willim (NRV, Germany), 44 p.
4. Santiago Sampaio (Portugal), 52 p.
5. Nicolo’ Villa (Italy), 53 p.
6. Max Gallant (Canada), 70 P.
U-21 World Championship in the Laser Radial (women)
Interim ranking after 10 races (2 discards)
1. Monika Mikkola (Finland), 16 points
2. Vasileia Karachaliou (Greece), 32 p.
3. Maité Carlier (Belgium), 42 p.
4. Valentina Balbi (Italy), 43 p.
5. Maud Jayet (Switzerland), 43 p.
6. Elli Cumpsty (Great Britain), 55 p.
Laser Standard Men and Laser Radial Women Youth Worlds (U21 – U19):
Tuesday, 9. August: check-in, measurement
Wednesday, 10. August: check-in, measurement, 2pm: practice race, 7:30pm: opening ceremony/dinner
Thursday, 11. August: 11am: qualification round
Friday, 12. August: 11am: qualification round
Saturday, 13. August: 11am: qualification round, 7pm midweek party with dinner
Sunday, 14. August 11am: qualification round
Monday, 15. August, 11am: final round
Tuesday, 16. August, 11am: final round, after that prize giving ceremony and final party/dinner
Website: Laser worlds Kiel 2016
Facebook: facebook.com/laserworldskiel2016
[photo: www.segel-bilder.de]