Rigs come down on day one

Big winds saw some competitors struggling at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta

The first day of the ISAF, Grade 2, Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta started in difficult conditions with south-westerly winds gusting 25-35 knots across the race courses at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. With the exception of the 49er and Tornado fleet, all classes started the regatta with at least one race, in the three to four metre swell.
 
The Laser and Laser Radial classes were the first to start the day’s racing, beating into 25 plus knot winds, with boats broaching and masts breaking, in the exciting yet exhausting racing. Britain dominated the Laser Radial fleet taking first, second and third overall at the end of the day’s racing. The heavy conditions did not suit Britain’s Laser sailor, Paul Goodison, who finished sixth overall, with Germany’s Kamrath taking pole position on the leader board. Goodison is competing at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta under weight, having trimmed downed for the light airs racing at the Pre-Olympic event in Qingdao last month.
 
After racing Goodison commented, “The racing today was pretty tough, especially up against the Swedish guys who are really up for it as this is an Olympic qualifying event for them. I am 8kg lighter than I was at the Worlds and the Swedish guys are here fit and strong and pumped up for the event. It was an up and down day for me, the high point was leading the first race at the top mark and the low was capsizing twice but I fought back and I am pretty happy with my performance today.”
 
The 470 fleet saw an exceptional standard of racing, with the entire fleet crossing the line in unison. Germany’s Lucas and Seelig made a fantastic start off the line for the first race leading the fleet up the beat and holding the lead to take the first race. Skandia Team GBR 470 sailors Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield dominated the second race, rounding the first leward mark a massive forty metres ahead of their nearest rival. The British team held the lead for the second race, placing Rogers and Glanfield first overall at the end of today’s racing in the men’s 470 class.
 
Swedish sailors, Therese Torgersson and Vendela Zachrisson and Britain’s Christine Bassadone and Saskia Clark are neck and neck at the top of the 470 women's fleet with both teams gaining a first and second place today. Clark explained why it was harder for them to return to the Academy than compete today, “It was epic sailing out there today! We had a good day of racing but when we were coming in, we broke the pin that keeps the rudder in the downwards position and so got in a bit of trouble in the lumpy conditions. We had to be towed in but in the end it was ok.”

The men’s and women’s RSX sailors saw limited racing today due to the turbulent winds, only sailing a race each.  Britain’s Lucy Horwood took control of her race, securing first place overall, but at the cost of damage to her thumb. She will not be racing tomorrow but has not pulled out of the regatta.
 
The Finn class was the last to return to land today as the heavyweight dinghy relished the strong winds across their the course.  Britain’s Ed Wright fought a close battle against the Swedish Daniel Birgmark and Rafael Trujillo Villar (ESP), in the first race, after leading the fleet off the line with an early tack. Unfortunately for Wright, he rounded the wrong mark and the Swede passed him, clinching first place.
 
Birgkmark then took control in the second race and finished first again, “Today was really windy but lucky steady for us out there but I enjoyed the conditions for both the races. I was interested to see what the event was like, as it will be the Olympic 2012 venue. This regatta has also been chosen as the Finn Olympic Selection event for the Swedish team so it is a very important regatta for me in terms of qualification. Ed Wright and the winner of the ISAF World Championships in Cascais, Spanish sailor Rafael Truijillo are both here and they were both very fast in the strong conditions at that event, so it was a good result to beat both of them today.”
 
By 15:00 all classes were postponed indefinitely, with the forecast predicating 35 plus knots across the region this evening. Principle Race Officer; Tim Hancock commented after racing, “We tried to get in two races today, as we were worried about the conditions tomorrow. We decided to stop racing when we did, as there were six or seven boats without rigs at that point. The wind speed was up to 25 knots and there was every indication that the conditions were not going to get any better. After two tough races for the competitors, fatigue was also a factor in the decision to stop racing.”
 
The 49er and Tornado sailors will be hoping for conditions to improve within the next 24 hours if they are to start their racing at this regatta.

Results:

470 Men

470 Women

Finn

Laser

Laser Radial

RS:X Men

RS:X Women