Windsurfing New Zealand

The top sailors at the RS:X World Championships in Takapuna sailed just one race today following which the overall standings determine the top ten to sail tomorrow’s medal race.

Alessandra Sensini ITA closed the gap on overnight leader Barbara Kendall NZL and the old rivals go into the world championships medal race on equal points. Faustine Merret FRA and Marina Alabau ESP are tied up both on 33 points, twelve points adrift of the leaders.

Tom Ashley NZL goes into the medal race on 36 points with a four point buffer despite placing 10th in race nine. Shahar Zubari of Israel retains second place overall with 40 points.

Joao Rodrigues of Portugal who was 2nd in today’s gold fleet race improved his standing to now sit in 3rd overall at the conclusion of racing today. He is five points back from Zubari.

It was late afternoon before the men’s and women’s gold fleets got underway with an inconsistent breeze making things difficult for race organisers and competitors alike.

The silver fleets sailed first and two races took place in 6 to 8 knots of breeze which dropped away later in the afternoon. The gold fleet hit the water for the start of race nine only to come back ashore shortly after as the breeze dropped and racing was postponed.

Finally at 5:30pm the women’s gold fleet started race nine of the regatta on this the penultimate day of the regatta. The men’s fleet followed.

Gold Fleet Women - Race Nine

Alessandra Sensini ITA stormed out to lead the pack and further extended on the fleet as the race progressed. Sensini’s dominance resulted in a 53 second margin across the finish line with Malgorzata Bialecka of Poland finishing 2nd and Australia’s Jessica Crisp 3rd.

Meanwhile overnight leader Barbara Kendall NZL didn’t get the start she would have wanted and rounded the first mark in 12th place. She climbed back through the fleet to cross in 7th place and holds onto a share of the overall lead.

Gold Fleet Men – Race Nine

France’s Samuel Launay took out the men’s gold fleet race late today crossing first in what was a shortened course in the dying breeze. Joao Rodrigues of Portugal was 2nd while Aichen Wang of China was 3rd.

Tomorrow

The world titles will be decided on the waters off Takapuna tomorrow in the double points medal races.

On water umpiring during the medal race ensures that no on shore protests can follow and results as they come to hand will be final.

As the medal race sailors reach Takapuna Beach a podium presentation will take place on the reserve in front of the Takapuna Boating Club. The official prize-giving will take place tomorrow evening.

Provisional Top Ten Standings

RS:X Men’s World Championships Day Five

1st Tom Ashley NZL – 36 points

2nd Shahar Zubari ISR – 40 points

3rd Joao Rodrigues POR – 45 points

4th Ivan Pastor Lafuente ESP – 54 points

5th Przemyslaw Miarczynski POL – 59 points

6th Samuel Launay FRA – 61 points

7th = Nick Dempsey GBR – 71 points

7th = Jon Paul Tobin NZL – 71 points

9th Nicholas Le Gal FRA – 73 points

10th Piotr Myszka POL – 75 points

Provisional Top Ten Standings

RS:X Women’s World Championships Day Five

1st = Alessandra Sensini ITA – 21 points

1st = Barbara Kendall NZL – 21 points

3rd = Faustine Merret FRA – 33 points

3rd = Marina Alabau ESP – 33 points

5th Charline Piccon FRA – 41 points

6th = Mingli Duan CHN – 48 points

6th = Blanca Manchon ESP – 48 points

8th Bryony Shaw GBR – 51 points

9th Peina Chen CHN – 53 points

10th Pauline Perrin FRA – 59 points

For full results visit http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html

Images for editorial use

Professional images of today’s racing taken by Ocean Photography will be available for editorial use. To view visit http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html

Please email jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz

Further information is available from:
2008 RS:X World Championship website: http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html
International RS:X Class Association Rory Ramsden Mail: rory.ramsden@btopenworld.com
Takapuna Boating Club Denise Parris Tel: 021 026 76499
Mail: mediatakapuna@gmail.com
Yachting New Zealand Jodie Bakewell-White Tel : 0292 008 492
Mail : jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz