European Open 24 July - 2 August
For full results click here.
For mark roundings go the the International 420 site and click here.
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WEDNESDAY 2 /THURSAY 3 AUGUST
Susannah and Danielle had a consistent day with a 4th and a 14th placing in the women's fleet putting them in 21st place. Great Britain leads with Spain in 2nd and Greece in 3rd.In the Open Gold fleet Italy leads, and Portugal shares 37 points with Germany.
In the Open Silver fleet Yelena and William have had mixed results and are coming 17th.
Linda Bettle reports:-Today was pretty bad, the front did not fully come and looks like it will arrive fully tonight. Unfortunately it was lottery as the wind swung left and right across the course throughout the day.
Andrew and Yelena's first race was okay then the rest turned to custard. Two bad starts for race 2 and 3. In irons on the start line not a good look.
Danielle and Susannah had a good day 4th we think in the first race. Results not out yet. Most of race 2 for them coming 2nd or 3rd only for the wind to shift resulting in a 14th which was still good.
There have been many protests each night so results do change
Wednesday: Yesterday was particularly trying. Winds conditions started off similar to the previous day but built in intensity. Andrew and Yelena still having trouble picking up on a localised wind condition. The first race was hampered by a pumping penalty which saw their 9th reduced to 14th as five boats overtook them on the penalty turns. Race 2 was probably a indication that the wind was starting to turn to the right and subsequently race 3 turned in to a disaster when they continued to go left and were nailed.
However many were caught out with this which saw some of the back enders achieve better positõons than previous by going right. The conditions are very shifty and hard to pick.
A front is due today with some good wind which should make for some exciting racing.
Report from Linda Bettle: DAY 3After a pleasant lay day visiting the mosques the NZ team were rested for the next series of racing
Light wind which turned to no wind forced the abandonment of race 1. After a couple hours of waiting race 2 and race 3 continued. Racing eventually finishing quite late into the evening
Wind light, slight shifty gusts and patchy, no tidal and current influence, course re set nearer Princess Islands
Andrew and Yelena had a good day. Round the first mark in about 10th position in race 2 and managed to cross the line in 7th.
Race 3 was even better for Andrew and Yelena as they managed to claw themselves into a comfortable 1st position this turned into a convincing win when the following boat was penalised for pumping and had to complete their turns. The following boat crossing the finish a good 150 metres behind them.
Susannah and Danielle's day not so successful. A crash with a Israeli boat on a mark rounding, ended with the New Zealanders forcing the Israeli girl to retire after race for not completing her turns.
Overall Andrew and Yelena are particularly positive going to day 4 racing. They have just gone out and the weather is similar to yesterday.
Report from Linda Bettle: DAY 2
Racing was pretty tough. The competition having recently sailed at the Belgium Nationals, Keel week, this regatta and are gong on to the Youths in Holland and then the British Nationals. So they are benefiting from being in the middle of their summer sailing season. The top competitors are older and bigger and have the sailed the Europeans and Worlds at least a couple of times, maybe more and are the top sailors of their respective clubs. Andrew and Yelena have been sailing only six months together and although had extensive pre regatta training have not had much racing against any other competitors over our winter. Even at our Nationals the numbers of 420's starting are quite low compared with this competition and other European Nationals. Many of the competitors I recognised as having attended the Worlds in Takapuna at Christmas. So from Andrew and Yelenas perspectõve they are still pretty green and attending this competition is good experience as conditions here are likely to be similar in Greece.Day 2 weather ranged from sunny to overcast. Temperature was probably about 37 degrees. Oscillating winds, wind direction off shore. Lulls about 3-10 Knots, Peaks (winds gusts 17 to 20 knots) Approx 30 degree shift in the gusts mostly right at about 30 second to 3 minute intervals. The breeze did steady grow over the afternnoon No currents and not much tidal influence. Course was situated of the Princess Islands.
Both teams I felt had trouble with kind of wind as we are used to a good steady breeze not one that puffs. Susannah and Danielle achieving a top ten place in one race. Andrew and Yelena set in gear four were powered for the breeze but underpowered for the lulls. When they did change setting after race two to gear two they became overpowered for the lulls and couldn't control the boat. So in hindsight and hindsight is always a good thing gear three should have been their optimum setting for conditions that day. The top ten competitors had the benefit of using their weight in the gusts to maintain control something that Andrew and Yelena are a little light on. Tactically they need to mature also.
Although it was a disappointing results for both teams, they remain upbeat and keen to do the best that they can.
Andrew and Yelena probably would have never made in to the Gold fleet because of the DNC from the trapeze wire breakage was quite costly points wise for the qualifying series.
On the layday they had a nice time at the mosques and shopping.
Qualifcation series / Racing day 1
The day began well
for Yelena and Andrew with a 16th and 13th placing, however after
incurring a penalty and completing their 720 Andrew threw himself out
on the wire only to have it snap... race 3 was a DNC, but it's a good
start to their qualification series.
Susannah and Danielle have had a solid start with two placings in the
30's, the women's fleet has no qualification series and instead will
race twice a day throughout the series.
For full results click
here.
For mark roundings go the the International 420 site and
click
here.
For press releases click
here