FRA 3 storm the day ready for finals racing
2022 World Bronze medallists, Hugo Revil and Karl Deaux from France showed their experience and skill with a storming comeback and three race wins as the 29er fleet made the most of the stunning British conditions with winds averaging 20 knots plus and beautiful sunshine.
Australians Ben Crafoord and Jacob Marks hold onto their lead into Day 4 and the first day of finals racing. With two more race wins and a 6th, only two points separates them from the French, with Spanish brothers Mateo and Simon Codoñer Alemany just one point behind in third.
2022 World Silver medalists Alex Demurtas and Giovanni Santi from Italy also had a great day scoring 1,1,2 which puts them right back in the pack at the front of the fleet ready for Gold fleet battle commencing tomorrow, Wednesday 2nd August.
Wednesday’s forecast is looking ‘fruity’ so sailors were ecstatic to complete 7 races, setting up perfectly for finals racing. The fleet will be split into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Emerald for the remainder of the competition meaning closer racing, more boat on boat battles and all to play for in the race for the Men’s, Women’s and Open World Championship titles on Friday.
In the Women’s fleet, Italians Malika Bellomi and Beatrice Conti currently lead, just one point in front of Irish sisters Emily and Jessica Riordan who both make Gold fleet and will be battling it out for the Women’s Gold and Silver medals for the remainder of the regatta alongside the overall World Championship title. In Bronze position are Swedish sisters, Ebba and Ellen Fredriksson.
Many teams are enjoying the new Open fleet opportunities; the current top Open team, Irish siblings Clementine and Nathan Van Steenberge sit in 10th position overall with plenty to play for over the next three days of racing at the front of the Gold fleet. In 2nd is Amparo Stupenengo and 2022 World Champion Tadeo Funes De Rioja from Argentina with Germans Paula Claus and Jakob Schubach currently in third.
Three races are scheduled for all fleets tomorrow and the race committee will be looking for a weather window to hopefully get racing underway in Portland harbour as soon as possible.
