How often can you score 15,11,11 in one day and still hold the lead in your class? That was the question Australians Jason Waterrhouse and Lisa Darmanin were asking themselves after a crazy day on the Rio course that saw all the top teams have shockers while the back-markers took the wins.
After discarding the 15th, the Aussies lead the regatta with 39 points, three ahead of veteran Santiago Lange withCecelia Saroli (ARG) and the British pair of Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves. Kiwis Gemma Jones (daughter of America's Cup legend Murray Jones) and Jason Saunders are two points further back in fourth.
Waterhouse commented: “It was a strange day and we didn't handle it well. We're surprised to be where we are (still on top) but to be fair to us, a couple of things didn't go our way.”
Darmanin added: “We thrive under pressure and we like the light and shifty conditions. We'll definitely bring it tomorrow!”
The big news of the day was the bounce back to form of the class superstars Billy Besson and Marie Riou. Besson has been troubled with a muscle injury in his back which saw him scarcely able to sail on the first two days of racing. However, intensive physiotherapy during the rest day yesterday has obviously helped eneormously and today the French pair went 2,1,1 to move up to seventh on 62 points, just 16 off the lead. If this progression continues and the top crews keep making mistakes, an amazing come-back is not out of the question.
Full results are available here.
– Roger McMillan in Rio.
