(Algiers, Algeria) The third day of racing at the 2019 African Laser Standard & Radial Championships brought very different wind conditions than the previous days. Three races were completed in about 14–15 knots with gusts up to 24 knots.
In the Standard fleet, some other players came into action on Day 3! While Angola’s Manuel Lelo managed to win the first race of the day (R6), Allan Julie and Rodney Govinden of Seychelles dominated R7 and R8, with the former winning both. Also, Moroccan Adil Elamrati and Egypt’s Aly Badawy seemed to enjoy the more “physical” conditions. At the end of the third day of racing, Govinden sits in first, with Badawy in second, ahead of Lelo, Islam Khoualed of Algeria, and a very experienced Allan Julie of Seychelles.
In the Radial division, the two leading athletes Egyptian Khouloud Mansy and Mozambique’s Deisy Nhaquile each won a race, R6 and R8 respectively, with a new winner from Algeria for R7, Sana Lechehab—who’s fighting with her Algerian teammate Mallia Karassane for third place on the podium. The wind intensity will certainly play a vital role (as it should be in in this sport!) with some participants clearly preferring rather hard sailing conditions.
With three more races to run plus the Medal Race, the action will certainly be high right up to the last minute to determine which teams will end up on top, qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
For regatta updates, see the event Facebook page. Results after Day 3 shared below.
