Giles Scott (GBR) extends his lead at the Finn Gold Cup in Takapuna to 18 points after two more races were sailed on the Hauraki Gulf. Deniss Karpak (EST) won the first race of the day to move up to second, while a great day for Tapio Nirkko (FIN) leaves him in third overnight. However the performance of the day went to Fabian Pic (FRA), who followed up a second place in the first race with a race win in the second.
It was a long day on the water in Takapuna. The day started with a postponement on shore, but when the fleet was sent out towards Rangitoto, the wind died and clocked, so the course was moved back to the Takapuna side. It was mid-afternoon before the first race got away after a few false starts. Eventually two races were managed out of the three were originally scheduled. The fleet didn't come ashore until past 18.00.
In race 4 it was a French 1, 2 at the top mark as Pic led Jonathan Lobert (FRA) around the top mark from the right with Pablo Guitian Sarria (ESP) and Karpak not far behind. Karpak had moved into second at the gate and took the lead on the second upwind to lead down the final run to win the race from Pic. Sarria followed across in third while James Hadden (GBR) sailed a spectacular race to cross in fourth. Regatta leader Scott moved up from around 15th at the top to eighth at the finish
The breeze was coming and going, but the fantastic fifth race was sailed in a solid 7-9 knots and beautiful clear skies. This time it was Nirkko in the lead at the top, with Pic in second. Scott rounded third but that was as high as he got. Ben Cornish (GBR) passed him downwind, while on the second beat Scott passed Cornish but also got passed by Croatian youngster Nenad Bugarin (CRO). The only change on the final downwind was Bugarin moving up to second, while Pic took an emphatic victory that clearly shows potential for his future.
It was also a day for a lot of mixing it up and changes on the leaderboard with a lot of big scores picked up by various sailors. First day leader Andrew Murdoch (NZL) could only manage a 43, 37 to drop to 13th, while Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) picked up a DNF, for his second yellow flag, and a 24th to drop to 12th. Ed Wright (GBR) picked up a 54th in the second race, while fourth overall this morning, Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) drops to 15th after a 33, DNF.
The high scoring day for many also included Alejandro Foglia (URU), who is one of many sailors hoping to qualify for the 2016 Olympics this week. He is currently in 35th place, and ninth nation, some way outside the qualification zone.
He said, “It's good to be here in New Zealand for the first time and my second Gold Cup. It's an important event for me to qualify for the Olympics. Everyone has come here very fit and trained, and it's quite a tough regatta as a lot of guys are sailing well and the conditions are up and down. I had a good start, but today was not a very good day. I managed good starts but the pressure was on the right and I was on the left. But still it's a long way to go with six more races, and hopefully with a more equal wind, so I can sail better and try to qualify here.”
Foglia became the International Finn Class Vice President for Development earlier this week and is also a member of the FINNTEAM development programme. “I am very happy to develop the class to get more countries into the Finn. The FINNTEAM also needs more activation. It's been a bit quiet so far and we need to get more people involved in the crowdfunding to support these guys. The FINNTEAM is group of five sailors who don't have much support to travel to events and buy equipment.”
Race four winner Karpak is also trying to qualify his county. “For me and my country this Gold Cup is an Olympic qualification event so is very important. I am really happy to do that for myself, my parents and my country.”
“Today was a good day for me, especially the first race. At the first mark I was fourth and I caught some pressure downwind and then step by step I worked out the shifts and won. The second race was a bit harder and I was a bit slower. With the discard now in I am second overall after Giles so I am happy with that. It's the best place I have ever been mid-regatta in my career so I hope to continue in that way.”
On his performance so far, “I am a little but surprised with my good speed in these light conditions, but it's good for me, so we'll see.”
After three days the four nations in the qualification zone are Estonia, Russia, Greece, and Czech Republic. However, there are three more nations within 20 points and many more close behind fighting for the four places in Rio available this week.
The star of the day was undoubtedly Fabian Pic. Now in fifth place overall, he also has a huge lead in the Junior fleet, 28 points ahead of Bugarin, with the World Junior Champion Ondra Teply (CZE) in third, another nine points back.
Pic said, “It was a really good day for me. I started all the time at the committee boat and tried to keep to the right and I think my speed was quite good. It was not easy to win but I was fighting all the time so it was good. In the first race I finished second after a big fight with the Estonian. And I am really happy with that. In the second I won so everything is perfect today.”
“I am higher up than I was expecting, so really happy. It's a good beginning so I'll take that.”
Jonathan Lobert has already been selected for Rio so that is not on the cards for Pic, however he is already looking further afield. “Jonathan has already qualified for Rio, so it's a big challenge to try and beat him, anyway I am training to go to Tokyo, but I am happy to take this.”
After both Australian Sailing crews had a tough day in the office yesterday, Oliver Tweddell had a strong recovery posting a 14th and eighth and moving up from 19th into eleventh overall.
“We had massive delay today waiting for breeze to come in. It was a light northerly to start with and eventually the breeze came in and we sat on the water for a couple of hours whilst we waited for the breeze to fill. The breeze eventually came in and we had a light 7-8knts breeze and I managed to have two really good races,” Oliver Tweddell said about the day.
“I sailed quite conservatively as I had a bad race yesterday but was very happy how I sailed today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow with three races scheduled and a lot of breeze, which should be good.”
Australian Sailing Squad’s Jake Lilley (QLD) did not have the best day posting an 18th and 36th and sitting in 31st overall after five races.
Racing continues Friday with three races scheduled again. With more wind forecast by some, hopefully the championship will get back on track.
Results after five races
1 GBR 41 Giles Scott 13
2 EST 2 Deniss Karpak 31
3 FIN 218 Tapio Nirkko 31
4 GBR 11 Edward Wright 37
5 FRA 17 Fabian Pic 41
6 CRO 69 Milan Vujasinovic 43
7 GBR 91 Ben Cornish 46
8 FRA 112 Jonathan Lobert 48
9 SLO 73 Vasilij Zbogar 49
10 USA 6 Caleb Paine 51
Full results here.
– Robert Deaves and Australian Sailing Team
