COMPETITION HEATS UP AT DELTA LLOYD REGATTA 2008

Laser Radial – Match racing for points
Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) and Gintare Volungeviciute (SLO) turned up heat in the final battle for the golden position. Tunnicliffe: “Going into the last race, I only had a five points lead on her.” Her goal was to increase it by one point: “So, I match raced Gintare before the start. We both had a bad start on port at the pin end and went behind the entire fleet. I covered her out to the right corner, but the wind shifted to the right and we were back in the top ten.” The American number one on the ISAF World Ranking finished third and the Volungeviciute ninth, which resulted in a gap of exactly six points. Besides from extending her lead, Tunnicliffe also enjoyed today’s stronger conditions: “Finally, I had to hike and I could surfing downwind.” Volungeviciute was also happy about the competition so far: “The races were long, but it was a good training. Maybe Anna was a bit stronger today, but I liked it.”

470 Women – Sparring partners on top
Since the end of 2007, the Brazilians Fernando Oliveira and Isabel Swan teamed up with the Italians Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol as sparring partners. Now they are both on golden course in Medemblik. The Brazilian girls had the best score of the day with a series of 1-4-2 and closed the gap by two points. Oliveira: “We were very fast, had good starts and picked up more pressure on the right side every time. We did better than expected.” The Italian leaders finished 2-7-6. Conti: “We were in third position in race three, as we jibed below the lay line. Some boats gibed inside and passed us. We dropped to a seventh place. But anyway, we are still in the front and it has been a good training. It is nice to see that all the work we did with Fernanda and Isabel pays off. We will see how it goes tomorrow and we are friends anyway.”

Star – Podium changes
The second start of the Star fleet saw many OCS’s, six to be specific. The 2007 Star World Champions Scheidt and Prada (BRA) were among them and dropped to a fifth place overall. The Swiss leaders Marazzi and De Maria hold on to their first position, followed by the current World Champions Kusznierewicz and Zycki (POL) and former double World Champions Loof/Ekstrom from Sweden.

49er – British take over lead
The top of the leader board in the 49er class changed again. The British Morrison and Rhodes performed strongly with a series of 14-2-2 and climbed to the golden position, followed by yesterday’s leaders Alonso Tellechea/Alonso Tellechea (ESP) and the leaders of the second day Sibello/Sibello (ITA). The spread between the first and third position is twelve points. It was also a good day for Spain, as two Spanish teams made it into the top four. The Olympic Champions Martinze de Lizard and Fernandez are fourth overall.

RS:X – Alabau and Van Rijsselberge take all bullets
The RS:X European Champion Marina Alabau (ESP) extended her overall lead with six points by taking both bullets today. In the men’s fleet it was Dutchman Dorian van Rijsselberge who closed the gap on Julien Bontempt (FRA). He won both races and is now four points behind.

Other classes
Going into the Medal Race tomorrow, Laser sailor Tom Slingsby (AUS) has a comfortable lead of eleven points on Vasilij Zbogar (SLO). His fellow countryman Gasper Vincec (SLO) lost ground to Edward Wright (GBR) and Rafael Trujilllo (ESP), who both scored a first and third in the Finn class. Wright is only one point behind, with Trujillo following on one point as well. Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby (AUS) are still in the lead of 22 Tornado’s.
Besides from title sponsor Delta Lloyd, the regatta 2008 is also sponsored by Volvo Cars Netherlands, Infotec, Provincie Noord-Holland, AD Sportwereld Pro, Heuvelman Sound & Vision, WeerOnline, Spa mineral water and ARMA Verhuur.