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**Photoboy** · 08-28-2019, 01:29 PM

Finns And RX's Battle The Pacific And One Another

The Men's and Women's RS:X and Finn fleet battled against the elements at Hempel World Cup Series Enoshima as wild winds and booming waves hit Sagami Bay.
As the seven remaining Olympic fleets were postponed early on in the day, the RS:X and Finn sailors hit the water and were put to the test in winds gusting 30 knots and waves 2.5m high.

France's Charline Picon, Rio 2016 Women's RS:X Olympic gold medallist, described the day as, "a bit of a war" with sailors expressions and body language reflecting that statement as they returned to shore following the racing.

Nonetheless, the 24 Finn sailors and 31 Men's and 24 Women's RS:X racers relished a new challenge on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic waters.

After two days of competition, Picon has demonstrated her all round excellence. On day one, in very light breeze, Picon expertly worked her board, using her physical strength to record three fourth place finishes. As the heavier breeze kicked in on Wednesday, the French Olympic champion took the challenge head and recorded a second and a third.

"It was amazing racing, with a lot of rain," commented Picon. "Sometimes there was ten knots with no planing and then it was up to 30 knots and a bit of a war.

"During the first upwind I only saw one sail up with everybody in the water. It was just a race fighting against yourself. But I enjoyed it a lot."

Picon became a mother after Rio 2016 and enjoyed time away from the RS:X. She made her competitive return in April 2018 and has been working to evolve her all-round skillset, "Since I had my baby, I have had to improve in strong winds. The key is to have pleasure in these conditions and have no fear. This year, since Palma [Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta], I've had a good sensation and taken a lot of pleasure in strong winds and this has really helped my results today."

Picon's second and third puts her one point off the Chinese leader, Yunxiu Lu, who won the opening race of the day.

Hong Kong's Wai Yan Ngai took the second race win and was followed by Emma Wilson and Picon. On the second race Picon commented, "It was a real battle. When somebody fell in the water, you'd have to avoid them and it was a real close race.

"I had a big crash and opened my leg. I finished the race and I hope it will be better tomorrow. At the upwind mark when I turned my sail round, I did a catapult capsize and don't know where I ended up.

"Emma and I then had a good battle on the final downwind which was great."

Yunxiu tops the leaderboard on 12 points followed by Picon on 13 and Peina Chen (CHN) on 16.

In the Men's RS:X, the fleet completed three races after the Women's RS:X as the breeze decreased in strength. Louis Giard (FRA) excelled winning two races and claiming a second. He holds the overall lead on 14 points. Pierre Le Coq (FRA) claimed a (5)-3-5 scoreline and is three points off Giard in second.

China's Kun Bi also found consistency in the strong breeze. A third, first and a second positions him in third overall.

Nicholas Heiner's (NED) face was lit up like a beacon when the Finn fleet returned to shore having completed a single race. When asked to describe the day in a word, he commented, "I'll go two - pretty awesome."

Heiner finished the race in second behind Spain's Joan Cardona Mendez who now holds the overall lead.

"It was amazing conditions, especially downwind," commented Heiner. "We were the only class out there having fun."

The Finn fleet were the first to hit the water and after some delays as the wind shifted, they got a race underway at 14:20 local time.

Cardona was a comfortable winner, leading from start to finish as Heiner moved up from sixth at the first mark to second at the end.

On what it took to succeed, Heiner commented, "At the top mark you had to find the groove in the chop and once you got going it was amazing fun. The best part was almost the trip back to the harbour at a great angle and going downwind in nice waves. It was an awesome day and a shame we didn't do more races."

The forecast was always for big winds and waves and Heiner prepared adequately, "You have to make sure you eat enough in the Finn when there's a chance of free pumping. But, to be honest, 12-14 knots is probably harder than these conditions because you're focusing more on steering the boat. I would almost say it was an easier day than a medium wind day but this was so much fun.

"For sure conditions were tough and it was a great battle against the elements. You've got to have fun with a big smile on your face then you'll go better in these conditions rather than sitting afraid."

Heiner's second puts him equal on points with Cardona Mendez who leads by nature of his race victory compared to Heiner's two second places. Greece's Ioannis Mitakis and Canada's Tom Ramshaw share the final podium position but plenty of racing remains.

Thursday sees an additional race added to every fleets schedule, minus the RS:X who will sail three. Racing is scheduled to start at 12:00 local time and the forecast is for a more favourable with 14-16 knots of breeze.

https://www.sailing.org/worldcup/new...p#.XWbh8EXQiUk

**Photoboy** · 08-29-2019, 09:41 AM

Fully Indoctrinated In Enoshima

The physical limits of the 496 sailors from 46 nations racing at the Hempel World Cup Series regatta in Enoshima, Japan were pushed on Thursday as big waves rolled through Sagami Bay.
With thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean to the East and South of Enoshima, coupled with deep waters around Sagami Bay, the waves have plenty of time to build to a rolling swell. The sailors contested 2.5m high waves with regularity and ensured that each and every one had a stern test on the water

The powerful rolling waves, combined with a stiff south westerly 20-25 knot breeze, meant that capsizes were plentiful with many sailors unable to finish some of their races due to breakages.

Despite this, every fleet sailed a good number of races to get the competition back on track after light breeze on day one and too much on the second.

One mistake cost Italy's Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti the perfect day in the Nacra 17. The Ready Steady Tokyo, Olympic test event, gold medallists clinched the first and last race win of the day but their scoreline was slightly tainted with an eighth in the middle as Tita explained, "We made a big mistake on the layline in the second race. We ended up in a hard situation. We were fast in the downwind so we were able to gain some positions."

The steep and regular waves make racing in the Nacra 17 an intense and sometimes daunting experience. Capsizes and near misses were a regular occurrence but Tita and Banti had the measure of the race track.

"It looks pretty intense when you're out there," commented Tita. "The waves are short and quite big for the wind. It's hard to sail the Nacra with the foils. For sure we like the conditions with wind and waves in Enoshima. We suffer a bit in the light wind. At the moment we've always had good winds here so we're happy with that."

The Nacra 17 became fully foiling after Rio 2016 and quite often those who have a high percentage of time on the foils get round the race track quicker. But that all changed on Thursday in the waves as Tita continued, "I would 5-10% of our time was on the foils. It was really hard to foil today. You'd maybe foil 100 metres and then crash. It was really hard.

"What we try to do is keep it in the water. When we are too fast we break, which is strange for a sailboat. We put a hull in the water to break and looked to maintain an average speed."

"The boat always wants to accelerate a lot and when you're too fast, you crash in the waves. It's better to slow down a bit, keep an average speed and keep safe."

The Italians two wins and an eighth puts them fourth overall. They are nine points off Ben Saxton and Nicola Boniface (GBR), winners of the second race, with Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (AUS) and Nathan and Haylee Outteridge (AUS) in second and third spot.

Last week's Ready Steady Tokyo was a high scoring affair in the Laser Radial with consistency scarce amongst the fleet. That trend looks set to continue and following three more races, Belgium's Emma Plasschaert holds the lead.

Plasschaert sailed her way to an 8-(15)-7 scoreline, not a typical set of results that would propel a sailor into top spot, but her rivals also recorded similar results.

"It was an alright day for me," said Plasschaert. "A medium but okay day - no big scores. No first seconds or thirds but that's okay at this stage of the event.

"I think it was pretty solid racing with nothing crazy going on. The Race Committee nailed the races one after each other. Nice waves and big winds, it was good fun. Especially going downwind."

Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) is two points off Plasschaert and Manami Doi (JPN) is a one further point behind.

Marit Bouwmeester (NED) was the most consistent sailor on the race track and picked up a 9-3-3 scoreline but a 35th and a retirement on day one positions her in 12th overall.

Pavlos Kontides (CYP) has moved into pole position in the Laser after a first, a fifth and a second. Overnight leader Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) and Jean Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) are in second and third respectively.

Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) are the masters of 470 sailing in strong wind and big waves. That statement was confirmed on Thursday as they recorded two race wins and a second to grab the lead the 32-boat fleet. Jordi Xammar and Nicholás Rodriguez (ESP) won the days other race and are in second.

In the Women's 470, Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries (AUS) advanced to lead the fleet following a 4-2-2 scoreline. They are five points clear of Elena Berta and Bianca Caruso (ITA). Race wins went to Mengxi Wei and Haiyan Gao (CHN), Berta and Caruso as well as Benedetta Di Salle and Alessandra Dubbini (ITA).

Nicholas Heiner (NED) found form again in the Finn. Heiner started the event with a pair of seconds and added a 3-3-(5) to his points score on Thursday. He has moved six points clear of Canada's Tom Ramshaw who won the final race of the day.

Overnight leader Joan Cardona Mendez (ESP) took the first race win of the day but dropped to 18th and 15th in the following races. The other race win went to Greece's Ioannis Mitakis.

China's Yunxiu Lu sailed the perfect day in the Women's RS:X, winning each race. As a result, Lu has opened up an 11-point advantage over Charline Picon (FRA). Katy Spychakov (ISR) was also a consistent performer, recording a third and two seconds. She is a point off Picon in third.

Korea's Wonwoo Cho moved into medal contention in the Men's RS:X following a 3-2-1 scoreline. Cho struggled in the light breeze on Tuesday, posting a (24)-6-13 scoreline but has thrived in stronger conditions.

He is joint third with China's Kun Bi on 37 points. After a 2-8-8 scoreline Louis Giard (FRA) sits on 32 points at the top of the leaderboard with Pierre le Coq (FRA) second on 34 points.

In the 49erFX, a number of the pre-event favourites were all black flagged in the first race of the day. Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz (NED), Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA), Helene Naess and Marie Rønningen (NOR) and Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen (DEN) were the most high profile casualties of the black flag.

Bekkering and Duetz hit back with two third places which pushes them into the lead.

In the final race of the day, a large percentage of the fleet capsized and only five boats were able to complete the race in the time limit available. Baad Nielsen and Thusgaard Olsen took race win, their second of the day having won the one prior. They sit in fifth.

The 49er fleet were the last ones off the water having sailed their races after the 49erFX fleet. After three additional races, Tim Fischer and Fabian Graf (GER) lead on 24 points. Poland's Dominik Buksak and Szymon Wierzbicki are second on 33 and Federico and Arturo Alonso (ESP) sit third on 35 points.

Racing resumes on Friday 30 August at 12:00 local time. The forecast is for further strong winds and two metre waves.

https://www.sailing.org/worldcup/new...p#.XWf-5RrQiUk

**Photoboy** · 08-30-2019, 10:32 AM

Big Waves, Strong Wind And Collateral Damage Upon Sagami Bay

A familiar fight on Sagami Bay is developing at Hempel World Cup Series Enoshima as Australian, Spanish and Swedish teams locked horns once again in the Men's 470.
The Men's and Women's 470 fleet are sailing their third consecutive regatta in Enoshima, Japan. Their World Championships concluded on 9 August before Ready Steady Tokyo, the Olympic test event, followed and now the first regatta of the 2020 Hempel World Cup Series.

Australia's Mat Belcher and Will Ryan won gold at both events and were followed by Spain's Jordi Xammar and Nico Rodriguez and Sweden's Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergström on both occasions.

They resumed their battle on Friday 30 August as big winds gusting in excess of 25 knots from the south west and pounding waves hit Enoshima once again.

As per the last two events, the advantage is with Belcher and Ryan who recorded a pair of seconds. They lead on nine points. The Spaniards finished fourth and first from the two races today and are second on 23 points. Dahlberg and Bergström sailed their way to their third and fourth consecutive third place finish to sit third on 27 points.

Across Belcher and Ryan's five week trip the pair have found their rhythm and are enjoying the competitiveness their closest rivals have brought.

"Both teams have always been up there to be honest," commented Belcher. "We've had some really close battles in the past, notably with the Swedish a couple of years ago at the World and European Championships. They are extremely talented and always in the mix. They are great all-round sailors. The same for Jordi and Nico. They've really picked it up recently in strong breeze but might have gone down a bit in lighter wind.

"It's a great battle. That's why we do it. It's not interesting if it's not difficult and we're really all enjoying racing against each other."

Belcher and Ryan consistently raise the bar in the Men's 470. Together they have won five World Championship titles and an Olympic silver medal. Belcher has an additional three world titles and a London 2012 Olympic gold medallist.

Belcher acknowledges that because of their success, teams will often draw comparisons and look to imitate, "It's quite a big difference psychologically between our programme and their programme," he continued, "but I am sure they are using us as the benchmark.

"For us, we know where we need to get to. What's really nice about this campaign is that we're focusing on the Games. We have got all our things sorted now and we're long-term focused. That's going to put us in a good position so we know where we've got to get to.

"We're working hard to keep redefining, keep improving, staying focused on us and hopefully that will be enough."

Three Men's 470 races are scheduled for Saturday ahead of their Medal Race on Sunday.

Italy's Elena Berta and Bianca Caruso dislodged Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries (AUS) at the top of the Women's 470 following a first and a fifth from their two races.

However, the Italians are just one point ahead and the top five are all close by after they all posted single digit scores.

Benedetta di Salle and Alessandra Dubbini (ITA) were the standout performers in the Women's 470. They recorded a second and a race win and are just a single point off Silvia Mas and Patricia Cantero Reina (ESP) who occupy the final podium spot.

Just a one race was completed in the 49er and the win went the way of Benjamin Bildstein and David Hussl (AUT). The 49er started a second race but the wind soon picked up, resulting in capsizes that saw the race abandoned and the fleet return to shore.

The Austrians race victory pushed them up into third overall. "We were happy to get out," commented Bildstein. "The wind looked nice at the beginning. We had a fun, three lap race. It was hard for the crew but it was good fun and a good fight. We got up into first after a good downwind."

Tim Fischer and Fabian Graf (GER) sailed their way to a ninth. On 33 points, they are seven clear of Dominik Buksak and Szymon Wierzbicki (POL). The top six are all tightly bunched and Bildstein is looking forward to taking on Saturday's Medal Race. "It will be close because we have some missing races. The top guys are really close so there's going to be a lot of action. A lot of good teams are fighting for medals so everyone should watch it."

As the 49er fleet came ashore, the Nacra 17 and 49erFX were postponed for the day meaning the top ten stand and will advance to tomorrow's Medal Races.

In the 49erFX, Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz (NED) have the advantage heading into the Medal Race, topping the leaderboard on 19 points. Julie Bossard and Aude Compan (FRA) follow on 27 points with Anne-Julie Schütt and Iben Nielsby Christensen (DEN) on 33 and Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) on 34.

Just eight points separate the top six in the Nacra 17 going into Saturday's Medal Race. Ben Saxton and Nicola Boniface (GBR) hold the lead on 12 points. The two Australian teams of Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin as well as Nathan and Haylee Outteridge are two points off. Ruggero Tita and Caterina Marianna Banti (ITA), Quentin Delapierre and Manon Audinet (FRA) and John Gimson and Anna Burnet (GBR) are also firmly in the hunt.

Two races were completed in the Women's RS:X and Ready Steady Tokyo winner Yunxiu Lu (CHN) is poised to claim a second consecutive gold medal. A fourth and a second has given her a 13-point advantage over Katy Spychakov (ISR) going into the Medal Race.

A seventh or better will ensure Lu claims the double. Spychakov has a nine point advantage over Zofia Noceti-Klepacka (POL). Charline Picon (FRA) and Emma Wilson (GBR) are within touching distance of the Polish racer in fourth and fifth.

Heading into the Men's RS:X Medal Race, just six points split the top four. Pierre le Coq (FRA), Kun Bi (CHN), Louis Giard (FRA) and Wonwoo Cho (KOR) fought each other at the front of the fleet from their three races on Friday resulting in minimal separation.

Le Coq holds the lead on 43 points with Bi on 45, Giard on 46 and Cho on 49. Although it may not be a straight shootout, winning the Medal Race will go a long way in deciding the gold medallist.

Nicholas Heiner (NED) excelled once again in the Finn fleet. He won both races to go 14-points clear of Joan Cardona Mendez (ESP). The Spanish sailor struggled on Thursday in the strong breeze but found form on Friday posting a 2-4 to move back onto the podium. Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) and Josip Olujic (CRO) are tied for third. Saturday will see three further races to confirm the Medal Race line up and decide who, out of China, Hong Kong and Iran, will claim the Asian Tokyo 2020 Olympic quota place.

Cyprus' Pavlos Kontides opened up a 23-point lead over his rivals in the Laser as his consistency paid off on the race track. Kontides, London 2012 silver medallist, finished fifth in both of his races and has a strong advantage over Matt Wearn (AUS) who posted a fourth and a race win.

Kontides is the only sailor who holds single point results from all seven races. His 20-points has given him some breathing space going into Saturday's final day of fleet racing but he'll know not to be complacent.

Wearn is second on 43 points and has Jean Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) following on 45, Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) on 46 and Hermann Tomasgaard (NOR) and Jesper Stalheim (SWE) on 49.

In the Laser Radial, Emma Plasschaert (BEL) extended her lead over Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) to ten points following a seventh and a first. Maria Erdi (HUN) took the day's other race win and is sixth overall. Three more fleet races remain.

Medal Races in the 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17 and RS:X fleets will commence from 12:00 onwards. All remaining fleets will sail an extra race to catch up on races last the days prior.

How to follow:

EVENT WEBSITE: https://wcs-enoshima.org/

https://www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php

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Enoshima Hempel World Cup Day 1 Light and Lumpy

Enoshima Hempel World Cup Day 1 Light and Lumpy

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