Racing canned at RS:X Worlds, but...

US$1000 winner-takes-all speed session as wind gusts to 50 knots

It didn’t take long for the Race Committee to pull the plug on racing today. The committee boat anchored and with a few minutes their bow roller was bent out of shape as the first 40 knot gust came through. White caps transformed into vapour as the sea became streaked with white lines…

The AP over A went up and racing was cancelled for the day. The forecast for tomorrow is more of the same. The medal races are scheduled for 1200 as usual.

In the meantime, a US$ 1000 Winner-Takes-All Speed Session was organised inside the sea wall. 18 men and six women went out to see what they could lay down over the 100m course. The strongest gust registered on the race committee boat was 50+ knots as the sailors showed some impressive board handling skills.

The rules were simple. Sailors had to use RS:X Class legal equipment to make two runs. The fastest run scoops the prize money. Men US$1000. Women US$1000

Peak speed for the guys was 31.86 knots and the girls was 25.92 knots

And the winners were:

RS:X Men Speed Session

1. NED8 Dorian van Rijsselberge – 31.86 knots
2. RUS4 Dmitrii Polishchuk – 29.97 knots
3. NOR7 Sebastian Wang-Hansen – 29.70 knots

RS:X Women Speed Session
1. POL1279 Hanna Zembrzuska - 25.92 knots
2. POL09 Agnieszka Bilska – 25.38 knots
3. POL8 Zofia Klepacka – 24.30 knots