Star World Championship, Percy-Simpson al comando
Classi OlimpicheVela 19 Gennaio 2010 Zerogradinord 0
Star World Championship – Rio de Janeiro – Quattro richiami generali, e poi una regata caratterizzata da vento leggero, corrente e onda lunga. Il Mondiale Star di Rio de Janeiro giunge a metà del cammino con un cambio al vertice: i tedeschi Badendererde-Jacobs (1-8-39), leader della prima ora, hanno lasciato il comando delle operazioni ai campioni olimpici Percy-Simpson (2-11-2), premiati dalla regolarità. A sette punti dai britannici stazionano Adler-Almeida.
A vincere la manche odierna, partendo al pin e navigando con decisione sulla sinistra, sono stati l’ex campione iridato Xavier Rohart e Pierre Alexis Ponsot (66-14-1). L’equipaggio francese ha tenuto in scia i già citati Percy-Simpson e i brasiliani Cunas-Mascarenhas (34-27-3) e i norvegesi Melleby-Pedersen (9-10-4), saliti al terzo posto della classifica generale.
Finalmente a Rio si parla un pò di italiano ed è merito di Negri-Colaninno (23-18-5). L’equipaggio guidato dall’olimpionico ligure ha scalato altre posizioni e si è portato sulla soglia della top ten, due posizioni davanti Grael-Ferreira (5-25-21).
Come detto in precedenza domani sarà giornata di riposo in quel di Rio de Janeiro: il Mondiale riprenderà mercoledì.
Star World Championship
1. Percy-Simpson (GBR), 2-11-2, pt. 15
2. Adler-Almeida (BRA), 6-5-11, pt. 22
3. Melleby-Morland (NOR), 9-10-4, pt. 23
4. Loof-Tillander (SWE), 8-9-18, pt. 33
5. Marazzi-De Maria (SUI), 30-1-6, pt. 37
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Per leggere la classifica clicca qui.
STAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, FRENCH HORIZON
[International Star Class Press Release] Xavier Rohart and Pierre Alexis Ponsot fought like attack dogs against a pack of 144 wolves for the choice filet mignon from Porcão. They won the pin and the left hand side of the course during the start of Race 3 of the 2010 Star World Championship in Rio de Janeiro. Renato Cunha and Marcel Mascarenhas, Iain Percy and Andrew “Bart” Simpson, Gustavo Lima and Charles Nankin (POR) and Diego Negri and Nando Colaninno led the attempt to hunt down the French, but didn’t have the stamina to get the job done. The 2003 and 2005 Star World Champion, Rohart, and Ponsot won the light air race under cloudy skies with a margin that matched Lars Grael and Ronald Seifert’s horizon job during the final race of the 2009 Star World Championship in Varberg, Sweden.
Rohart-Ponsot have been struggling for speed for nearly a year following a cycling accident that Rohart had last spring. Said a very pleased Rohart following the race, “We worked hard for that! We were especially fast downwind.”
The key to their win was the start. Rohart commented on their determination to be at the pin during each attempted start of Race 3 in the light air and current, “Yes. We were there. There were a lot of boats down there.”
Their sensational start and great first beat up the left hand side of the course gave them a comfortable lead at the first weather mark, and they extended from there.
Percy-Simpson made good on yesterday’s promise to perform better today. With their second place finish, Percy-Simpson move to the top of the leaderboard. Alan Adler and Guilherme Alemieda finished 11th. Their three-race total of 22 points places them 6 points behind the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists. The Brits and Eivind Melleby and Petter Morland Pedersen made the biggest gains at the front of the pack. The Norwegians’ fourth place finish today raises them to third overall in the regatta.
The surprises in the race came from the newcomers to Star sailing. Cunha-Mascarenhas had practice one day together and Cunha has only been in the boat this season. His advantage is that he has been a local harbor pilot for 15 years and knows what to expect during different tidal and wind conditions. The pair hung with the big boys, even during the final beat when the wind came up and all of the crews were hiking. Percy-Simpson crossed the finish line at the pin end on starboard and Cuhna-Mascarenhas dipped the Brits stern to take third place. Lima-Nankin showed remarkable poise by rounded the first weather mark in fifth place, holding on for a long while and finishing in ninth, right behind compatriots, Juan K. and Alejandro Calla.
Defending Star World Champions George Szabo and Rick Peters had their best performance thus far and finished in 10th place.
Star World Championship
1. Percy-Simpson (GBR), 2-11-2, pt. 15
2. Adler-Almeida (BRA), 6-5-11, pt. 22
3. Melleby-Morland (NOR), 9-10-4, pt. 23
4. Loof-Tillander (SWE), 8-9-18, pt. 33
5. Marazzi-De Maria (SUI), 30-1-6, pt. 37
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To read the standing click here.
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