Mens 470 at London 2012 - Day 2: Luke and Stuart keep up early charge
by RYA 3 Aug 2012 20:05 BST
3 August 2012
Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell continue to set the pace in the Men’s 470 class after another confident display on day six of the Olympic Sailing Regatta today (Friday 3 August).
The duo consolidated their lead at the top of the scorecard with a fourth and second place today moving them six points clear of the three-time World Champions, and pre-event favourites, Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS).
But with only four races in their guaranteed series of 10 completed, Patience and Bithell aren’t getting carried away by their start.
Patience said: “Today was alright, we just approached the day exactly as we did yesterday, hit our process and got the boat full speed. It’s day two, the marathon continues and we’re pleased to come away with few points again.
Bithell added: “There are 27 boats in the fleet and it is not just a Brit v Aussie race at all. It’s nice just to come and be quite strong from the word go. If we hit these processes and carry on doing what we’re doing, we will be happy boys.
“It was (getting quite lumpy out there) the cross-swell again in Weymouth Bay was kicking up and clouds came in and it got breezy and made the conditions hard to sail in for everyone. We are used to it more than most, so we will take that.”
The 470 Men are scheduled to resume at 2pm tomorrow (Saturday 4 August) with the boys scheduled to race on the Weymouth Bay South course.
The Olympic Sailing Regatta runs from Sunday 29 July – Saturday 11 August. The Men’s 470 medal race is scheduled for Friday 9 August (1pm).
www.rya.org.uk/london2012