Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster Women's Wetsuit Range

420 World Championships at Lake Neusiedl, Austria - Day 3

by International 420 Class Asssociation 4 Aug 2012 07:26 BST 30 July - 5 August 2012

High concentration

After a postponement ashore, the fleets headed out to the race areas at around 1500 hours. Time ashore was spent enjoying a paddle boarding 'head-to-head' relay, pitching nations against each other, commented in lively style by Austria's 2000 Olympic Gold medallist Christoph Sieber.

With many teams on the cusp of qualification, today was make or break for the gold, silver and bronze fleets going into the final 6-race series. A light and very shifty breeze of about 7-8 knots challenged everyone, from front to back of the fleet in a day demanding high levels of concentration on the race course.

In the 420 Open fleet, the two-day tie break has now been broken between the two brother teams of Alex and George Kavas (GRE) and David and Alex Charles (ESP). The Greeks took another race win, with the Spanish finishing second in their fleet.

In the 420 Ladies, Chile's Nadja Horwitz/Sofia Middleton continue to dominate and hold a string of top three results from the qualification series, with Singapore now holding the second and third positions.

420 Open

Whilst some of the 420 Open teams were intent on showing off their prowess in the paddle boarding, others sought the shade and reserved their energy for racing. Australia's Josh Franklin/Alexander Gough did exactly that, chilling out with the Kavas brothers in the grassy and shady boat park. Outcome for the Aussies a fifth place finish and move up to fourth overall, two steps closer to the podium finish they covet.

"We are good friends with the Greeks, we have all been racing against each other for about two years or something and we are all pretty friendly," said Gough. They are impressed with the brothers' performance so far, with Gough adding, "At the moment they are the team to watch and are really consistent in this regatta. We are a new team so are a bit more up and down."

Franklin continued, "We are pretty happy, we have got the basics down pat and the racing is good. There are a few things to work on which should get better throughout the regatta, such as starting is a big thing and to get off the line better."

Last year, with a different helm, Gough secured bronze at the ISAF Youth Worlds and won the 2011 420 Junior Europeans.

The Greeks gained the advantage today over the Spanish brothers, with another race win making it five wins out of the six races, and with it broke the points tie break.

"We like to win, but we didn't expect to do this, but with the strong wind on the first day it was good. Going into the final series, we will make sure not to get any black flags and continue to race as we have been," said older brother George.

Posting a second place finish to their scoreline today, recently crowned ISAF Youth Sailing World Champion, Alex Charles, commented, "Today the racing was quite difficult because it was a different direction to normal, and we haven't sailed with this wind. It was a really light breeze and we just did our best, got to the first mark in fourth and fought for each position. We are really happy with the result."

When racing continues on Friday 3 August, the Greek and Spanish brothers will come face to face for the first time at the Championship, something Alex relishes, "We will do what we are doing. I think we are sailing really well and have a lot of speed, but the Greeks do too, so my team mates said to me. It will be nice to sail against them."

The 108 team 420 Open fleet is now split into three fleets – gold, silver and bronze – with 36 teams in each.

Provisional Open Results after Day 3: (top ten, 6 races)

1. GRE 51581 - KAVAS Alex/KAVAS Georges – 5 pts
2. ESP 54228 - CHARLES David/CHARLES Alex - 6 pts
3. FRA 54608 - PIROUELLE Guillaume/SIPAN Valentin - 13 pts
4. AUS 54203 - FRANKLIN Josh /GOUGH Alexander - 21 pts
5. GBR 54082 – DERBYSHIRE Harry/LOVESEY Tom - 22 pts
6. BRA 52848 - PARANHOS Ricardo/ESSLE Patrick - 26 pts
7. USA 54066 - WADDELL Wade/FERNBERGER Henry - 26 pts
8. SIN54066 – TANG Andrew/YEO Jonathan – 29 pts
9. GRE53460 – MPAKATSIAS Fratzekos/TIMOGIANNAKIS Evangelos – 32 pts
10. GBR54164 – MORSLEY Toby/WALLIS Matt – 33 pts

420 Ladies

Chile's Nadja Horwitz/Sofia Middleton continue to blitz the fleet, posting another race win today to give them a 7 point margin over the second placed Singapore pair of Rachel Lee/Cecilia Low. The Chileans are well on track to convert their fifth place finish at the 2011 420 World Championships to a gold medal in Austria.

That Horwitz/Middleton are here as Chile's sole representatives is the last thing on their mind. Horwitz is competing at the 420 Worlds fresh from a fourth place at the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship. Due to the age limitations, Horwitz competed at the ISAF Youths with a different crew, but is back sailing with Middleton for the 420 Worlds. Crew swaps clearly don't face Horwitz, who commented, "I have got used to changing."

Another consistent day for Singapore keeps Rachel Lee/Cecilia Low in second overall after a 4th place in the blue fleet and Griselda Khng/Shu Xian Lee move up to third overall after a matching score in the yellow fleet.

Dropping out of the top three, to fourth, are the silver medallists at last year's 420 Ladies European Championships Jennifer Poret/Louise Chevet (FRA).

For Jessica Lavery/Georgina Mothersele (GBR), today was the first day they came face to face with Chile's Nadja Horwitz/Sofia Middleton. The British pair posted a solid eighth place, and end the day in fifth on the leaderboard. They are equal points with the French and Singapore teams, and have every chance of achieving their Championship goal of a podium place. A slow start to the day waiting for wind called for some calm and patience, as Lavery explained, "We all just sat in the shade, chatted, played cards, drank a lot to make sure we weren't dehydrated before we started." The girls are drinking at least three litres of water each a day, most of it when racing.

From being buried at the start and back in fifteenth at the first windward mark, the pair edged their way up through the fleet. "We had a difficult start so we were just clawing back, and it was hard because the wind was so light and everyone had the same boat speed, so we just tried to stay in clear air and chomp away at the fleet," said Mothersele.

On being the top placed British boat so far, Lavery said, "I haven't really thought about if I am honest. It is more of us sailing our own regatta and what we want to achieve out of it and just sail to our best," with Mothersele adding, "We don't compare with other Brits. It is more about medalling at international events rather than our friends."

Last team through to the top 36 boat gold fleet cut are Spain's Carmen Davila/Julia Davila who plummeted from 18th going into today to only just make it after a 28th place finish in race 6. The remaining 35 boats will contest the bronze fleet.

Up with a chance of claiming the William Sanchez Trophy for the top placed Ladies under 16 team are Eleutheria Georgakopoulou/Marietta Moraitou (GRE), who sealed a third place and move up to tenth overall.

Provisional Ladies Results after Day 3: (top ten 6 races)

1. CHI 54622 - HORWITZ Nadja/MIDDLETON Sofia - 8 pts
2. SIN 53659 - LEE Rachel/LOW Cecilia - 15 pts
3. SIN 54140 - Griselda Khng/Xian Lee Shu (SIN) – 17 pts
4. FRA 54609 - PORET Jennifer/CHEVET Louise – 22 pts
5. GBR 54194 - LAVERY Jessica/MOTHERSELE Georgina - 22 pts
6. SIN 53933 - LIM Kimberly/SIEW Savannah - 22 pts
7. ITA 54401 - OMARI Carlotta/CIRILLO Francesca Russo - 23 pts
8. ESP 54542 - MIQUEL Aura/CANO Marina - 26 pts
9. FRA 54250 – ROSSI Camille/VILETTE Aurelie – 35 pts
10. GRE 54360 – GEORGAKOPOULOU Eleutheria/MORAITOU Marietta – 37 pts

Twenty eight nations are competing at the 2012 420 World Championships, with the biggest teams coming from Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, who have all sent full quotas. Nations are entitled to send seven teams in each of the 420 Ladies division and 420 Open division. As host nation Austria is entitled to 14 teams in each division, so fields the biggest team of twenty two boats. At the other end of the scale Australia, Chile, Ireland, Israel and the US Virgin Islands have sent just one team each.

Thursday 2 August is a reserve day. Racing on Friday 3 August will resume with the final series scheduled to get underway at 1100 hours.

The 2012 420 World and Ladies World Championships are being hosted by the Austrian Sailing Federation in conjunction with the Austrian 420 Class Association and the International 420 Class Association.

www.420sailing.org/worlds

Related Articles

400 sailors to compete in Palamós Christmas Race
One month to go until the regatta and entries are at full capacity Just one month to go until the 48th edition of the Palamós Christmas Race, a benchmark regatta for both Olympic and dinghy sailing in the winter season, to be held in the waters of the Bay of Palamós (Girona). Posted on 21 Nov
Xtremity 420 Autumn Championship at Warsash
24 teams showcase their talents and deliver thrilling racing The waters off Warsash Sailing Club came alive as 24 teams showcased their talents during the highly anticipated Xtremity 420 Autumn Championship held on September 28th and 29th. Posted on 17 Oct
US Sailing Youth Racing Camps
Applications due October 1st US Sailing invites youth racing sailors in the youth worlds classes: ILCA 6, Formula Kite, iQFOiL, i420, 29er, and Nacra 15 to apply for an invitation to the US Sailing Youth Racing Camps presented by Risk Strategies. Posted on 20 Sep
420 British Nationals at Dale Overall
One of the tightest finishes in recent history After the first two exciting days of racing at the 420 National Championships, there was a brief pause in the competition due to excessively high winds. The race officer called it before 8am, and a short walk along the coast proved he was spot-on. Posted on 31 Aug
420 British Nationals at Dale Update
Six races delivered with plenty of excitement Forty-one boats have made the epic journey to the most south-westerly part of Wales, Dale Yacht Club, a hidden gem with a fantastic race area directly onto the Atlantic for the 420 National Championships. Posted on 25 Aug
420 British Nationals at Dale Runners & Riders
Sailors set for what looks to be a windy event With the British International 420 National Championship set to start today at Dale Yacht Club, beginning in what looks to be very windy conditions, here's a run down of the boats to watch over the next four days. Posted on 23 Aug
Summer in the British 420 fleet
The secret to getting ahead, is getting started The secret to getting ahead, is getting started - a summer of perspiration and inspiration in the 420 fleet, mostly perspiration. Posted on 5 Aug
Kingston to host Sail Canada 2024 Youth Champs
Including the ILCA 6 & 7 Senior Championships Over 400 sailors will be in action next week, August 6-9, in Kingston, during the Sail Canada 2024 Youth and ILCA 6 & 7 Senior Championships. Posted on 2 Aug
420 & 470 Junior Europeans overall
It was all for grabs with the point differences being small and crews ready to perform It has been a great week in Thessaloniki for our 2024 420 & 470 Junior European Championships. 12 races for the 420 fleets and all scheduled races for 470s were completed in six days. Posted on 29 Jul
420 & 470 Junior Europeans day 5
Results shuffled and it's all for grabs in Thessaloniki The wind has again turned in the 2024 420 & 470 Junior European Championships. After a short postponement ashore, the sea breeze arrived around noon and fleets were sent for their scheduled races. Posted on 28 Jul