Day 2: Multinational wins in both fleets as racing commences at Largs
After a day and a half sitting waiting for the wind, a steady, building northerly breeze trickled down the Clyde this afternoon allowing racing to commence at the Laser Radial World Youth Championship in Largs.
The conditions were far from what the senior Radial fleet experienced at their world championship the previous week when gusts of 40kts swept through the fleet, but adequate enough to allow the 320 competitors to enjoy the first tactical race of the series.
Sailing on ‘home waters’, it was good to see 16-year-old GBR sailor Elliot Hanson demonstrating why he is one of the hot favourites here this week. Hanson finished sixth on these same Clyde waters last week at the Laser Radial World Championships. A former Topper UK national and world champion he benefited from the leading Hungarian’s windward mark-rounding error, and enjoyed a good race with Matthew O'Dowd (IRL), to win the one and only race of the day on the Boys’ course. Tadeusz Kubiak (POL) was also on top form winning Blue fleet, while Matthew Mollerus (USA) has made his intentions clear by winning the Red fleet.
On the girls’ course, set further to the north of Cumbrae, the situation was equally exciting with Julia Vallo Arjonilla (ESP) winning the first race in the Blue fleet and finishing third in Race 2 which puts her in a leading overall position. Pauline Barwinska (POL) snatched a win in Yellow fleet when Marketa Audyova (CZE) who crossed the line first, was deemed OCS.
Barwinska, fresh from competing at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Turkey is another race sharp sailor who showed she’s a real force to be reckoned with. She’s only been competing at international level for one year, so today’s result has given her a massive boost. The Japanese girls are also on top form with Manami Doi, and Momoko Tada taking wins in the second races (Yellow and Blue fleets).
Elliot Hanson (GBR): “We had quite tricky conditions to start with because the wind was up and down. I was second round the windward mark and then managed to chop and change with Matthew Odowd until the last run when I just managed to pull away. We started off with the most wind of the day at 12kts from the north generally. There were more pressure changes than shifts. The key today was to keep the speed up and reach the first windward mark in a decent position. But I think staying in the highest pressure was the key factor of the day. Some of the other British sailors did well today too and Cam Douglas – who was at the ISAF event, and John Currie who was second at the Youth Trials – are definitely two I’ll be watching out for this week.”
Paulina Barwinska (POL): “I had a close race with Marketa Audyova (CZE). I had a good start and rounded the first mark in second place. I was on her tail all the time but couldn’t quite catch her and crossed the line about 10m behind. However, she was over the line at the start so was disqualified. I think keeping your eyes open for wind shifts and gusts was very important today, and also keeping a look out for other sailors. It was very tricky out there but at least we got some good wind.”
Julia Vallo Arjonilla (ESP): “I won the first race and finished third in the second so I am very pleased with my results. I think the starts were important today. If you have a good start you have more choice to think about where to go. I also had a lot of boat speed, which was also key today, in the tricky conditions. Thankfully I managed two good starts and had two good finishes!”
21/7/2010 19:50
