Asher and Willis won the men's 470 event. Image copyright Sander van der Borch.
by Corinne McKenzie
On Saturday May 29, the 2010 Delta Lloyd Regatta crowned three champions at the special prize giving ceremony downtown Medemblik. The British team of Asher and Willis won the 470 men series after a nerve-racking Medal Race. As expected, the Norwegians Melleby and Pederson grabbed the victory in the Star class. The Italians sailors Conti and Micol finished their job and won the 470 Women. All races were covered live on the internet, by television and tracing & tracking.
470 Medal race
The race started as planned at 6PM with light wind and drizzle. In fourth overall, the Croatian Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic were the ones who could gain the most despite an 11 points break from third placed Calabrese/de la Fuente (ARG). The Croatian started well and reached the top mark in front. The boats spread on the downwind to get more breeze. The Croatians increased their lead on the second upwind followed by the Australians, Swedish and regatta leaders Asher/Willis. The third beat saw some upset when the Israeli and the two French who went hard right, sneaked in between the Australians (second behind CRO) and the Brits who at this stage had lost the lead of the regatta to the Australians. Gidon Kliger and Eran Sela (ISR) got closer to pass the Australians and the Croats over the finish line. With the Israeli now in front, Asher and Willis regained their lead to win the event. The Croatian second in the Medal race took third behind the Australians. 'The conditions were very tricky but we have a good speed which helped a lot", says Asher, 'It surely was the most exciting race of the week, but very nerve-racking!"
Star Medal race
Norwegians Melleby and Pederson starred in the Stars! Image copyright Sander van der Borch.
The Croatian sailors stole the show once again in today's Star Medal race. A repeat of the 470 man Medal race! Mate Arapov and Ante Sitic, started in 4th position. They won the race with a good lead to take second overall. The Norwegians Melleby and Pederson, who after a bad start came back throughout the race to place second, collected their third Sailing World Cup title this year after victories in Miami and Hyères. 'We had an average where we misjudged the time. We were fifth which was enough to keep the title. We didn't want to take too many risks so took it easy. We finally got to second so it is great." The Norwegians will concentrate this year on the Sailing World Cup events and will miss the Star Europeans.
470 Women Medal Race
Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol (ITA): Women's 470 winners. Image copyright Sander van der Borch.
The French 470 sailors dominated the Medal race. Once again, the fourth placed team made the most of the Medal race. Ingrid Petitjean and Nadège Douroux (FRA) fourth this morning, placed second behind Emmanuelle Rol and Hélène de France (FRA) to take Bronze. Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol (ITA) and World Champions Lisa Westerhof/Lobke Berkhout (NED) keep their earlier position. The Italians wins the 2010 Delta Lloyd Regatta.
Sunday will see plenty more actions on Ijsselmeer. The remaining medal races will be sailed as well as a last race for the 2.4 and for the sailors not selected for the Medal race.
Laser radial
Evi van Acker (BEL) won both races today and closed the gap with Marit Bouwmeester (NED) before the Medal race. 'I had good starts", explained Evi, 'I over stood the top mark and got 5th at top mark but caught up down wind to win. For the second race I had a good start, but again over stood the top mark; luckily, I took a gust and went from 15th to 3rd at the bottom mark then tacked away and grabbed the lead. This week I have won races in both extreme conditions and feel good about tomorrow's Medal race."
Laser
Tom Slingsby (AUS) conserves the lead in the Laser Gold fleet. The Australian who is racing his first international event this year in the Delta Lloyd Regatta explains: 'There is still a long way until the Olympics so I prefer to take it easy and not race too much. I am now in Europe for four years. I use this regatta to train before our Europeans in Estonia. Then I will go to Kiel, Weymouth and finally the Worlds in England in September. I stay in Europe for four months. It's hard to travel to all the events when you live in Australia but once in Europe it is easier to travel around.
About his regatta: 'I didn't expect to do so well. I am comfortable in the breeze but still need to improve in the light even if I have made some good progress. I know I can still improve everything a little more. I need to find a bit more 'finesse" that the Europeans have!"
Slingsby has a comfortable 16 points lead going into the Medal race.
49er
Nico Delle Karth and Nikolau Resch (AUT) will start the 49er Medal race as favourite : 'We have been quite consistent this week. We are happy to be in the top 3 with such a big fleet. We are going into the Medal race with a six point lead, which is nice. I hope that the Australians and the New-Zealanders who are just one point apart will cover each others, but it might not happen! We haven't won any regatta since Miami OCR last year so we are ready to take another one." The Australians Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen are in second, only one point from New-Zealanders Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. Only the top four can claim Gold on Sunday.
Finn
The Finn medal race will be very close with 15 points separating the top five. A talented field of sailors within the top ten will provide for interesting racing. Double European champion and World n1 sailor Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) will start with a narrow five points lead over Athens Silver medallist, Rafael Trujillo from Spain, and nine points over Beijing silver medallist, Zach Railey (USA).
RS:X
The RS:X were again the last ones to finish. The dying wind in the afternoon only allowed for one race in the men's Gold fleet. Przemek Miarcynski (POL) has realised a real performance this week scoring seven top five results including four victories. Team mate Piotr Myszka has climber to second overall, one point only from third and fourth overall Nimrod Mashiah (ISR) and Alexandre Guyader (FRA). The medal race will be a clash of champions.
With expected strong wind reaching 30 knots, the RS:X Medal race will provide plenty of excitements.
The RS:X women results are not yet released.
2.4mR
The 2.4 will sail an extra fleet race on Sunday. Damien Seguin (FRA) is closing the gap over regatta leader Thiery Schmitter (NED). British ladies Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe are also keeping close to the score with Pascoe winning her second race today.
Sunday will have a heavy schedule.
Match racing
Apart for the Medal races, the Women will sail their semi-finals and finals. Lucy MacGregor (GBR) will meet Sofia Bekatorou (GRE) and Tamara Echegoyen will race against Anne-Claire Leberre (FRA).
Delta Lloyd Regatta
