American Charge At Kieler-Woche
Josh Junior (NZL) leads the Laser class. Image copyright Kieler Woche.
by Hermann Hell
It was a good second day at Kieler-Woche for the Americans as Paige Railey strengthened her lead in the Laser Radial, Erin Maxwell and Isabelle Kinsolving took the top spot in the women’s 470 and Zach Railey closed the gap on the Finn leader to just two points. Anna Tunnicliffe also enjoyed a good second day winning nine races in the first round robin of the Women’s Match Racing.
Paige Railey, the younger sister of Zach, added two Laser Radial race victories to the two she recorded on the opening day in Kiel. The World #3 leads the 51-boat Laser Radial fleet on four points. Her nearest rivals, Lisa Fasselt (GER) and Krystal Weir (AUS), trail the American by ten points in second and third place.
Five German teams continue to occupy top ten spots in the Women’s 470 but it is the American duo of Erin Maxwell and Isabelle Kinsolving who came out on top after a fourth place finish and a race victory on the second day. With eight points they lead Tina Lutz and Susann Beucke (GER) who went 1-2 to sit on 11 points. One point behind in third place is Annina Wagner and Marlene Steinherr (GER). Overnight leaders Annika Bochmann and Anika Lorenz (GER) had a poor day finishing 8-11 and drop to fifth.
Zach Railey (USA), who is world #1 in the Finn, entered day two in second place trailing Jonathan Lobert by five points. But with two fourth place finishes and a fifth place Railey has closed the gap on Lobert to just two points after five races. 2010 Finn World Champion Ed Wright (GBR) is third on 18 points.
Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) ended the first round robin of the Women’s Match Racing competition on top with nine race wins. Genevieve Tulloch (USA) and Olivia Price (AUS) finished behind Tunnicliffe with seven race wins.
The competition has now moved to the second Round Robin phase where the eight quarter finalists will be decided. Tunnicliffe has sailed two races in the second phase winning both whilst Ekaterina Skudina (RUS) and Silke Hahlbrock (GER) have 100% records after three races.
Polish sailors continue to dominate the men’s and women’s RS:X as Przemyslaw Miarczynski and Agata Brygota had another good day in Kiel.
Miarczynski has had an excellent start to Kieler-Woche winning four out of five races sailed so far. The Polish sailor recorded double bullets on the second day and leads Toni Wilhlem (GER) by five points. In third place on 11 points is Michal Majewski (POL).
Meanwhile Brygota, who claimed gold at Kieler-Woche last year, is yet to record a race win, but with consistent second and third place finishes she leads the fleet on ten points. ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Blanca Manchon (ESP) put her 12th place finish on the opening day behind her to finish fourth and fifth, she moves up to second place, one point behind Brygota. Jessica Crisp (AUS) sits third on 14 points.
The top of the leader board in the Laser class is once again very tight after another intriguing day of sailing in Kiel. With a third place finish and a bullet World #9 Josh Junior (NZL) took the lead from Simon Grotelueschen (GER). The New Zealander discarded an eighth place finish recorded in the opening race and with two race wins on the second day he leads on seven points. Groteluschen slips to third on 12 points and Phillip Buhl (GER) is second on 11 points. The Germans will be looking to overhaul Junior in their attempt to record a regatta win in their home nation.
There is no stopping Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS) in the men’s 470 as the Australian World Champions clinched their fourth consecutive race win. After five races they are in control at the top of the leader board on four points. Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) ended day two in second place on 13 points and Greece’s Panagiotis Kambouridis and Efstathios Papadopoulos are third on 23 points.
Sam Phillips and Will Phillips (AUS) maintained their lead in the 49er but Denmark’s Peter Kruger-Andersen and Nicolai Thorsell reduced the deficit to one point despite not starting Race 8. And on 26 points in third place are the Danish duo of Allan Norregaard and Peter Lang.
In the Star, Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen (SWE) and Flavio Marazzi and Enrico De Maria (SUI) are tied on ten points each at the top of the leader board.
With double bullets in the 2.4mR Heiko Kroger (GER) has six points at the top of the leader board. Megan Pascoe (GBR) was unable to match the German for the second day running as she finished second and fifth to trail Kroger by five points.
Kieler Woche
