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High Winds at Volvo Youth Championships

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High Winds at Volvo Youth Championships
www.Sail-Search.com: Århus, Denmark – 12 July, 2008 - The first day of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship saw lots of action on the water, with capsizes and breakages as the rain clouds passed over the Bay of Århus. “Just awesome”, was how Australian 29er helm Hannah Nattrass summarized today’s conditions, but that was not a sentiment shared by everyone in Århus as squalls brought gusts of wind up to 30 knots giving the competitors hard conditions to start the event in. Racing began at 12:00 with the sun shining and a southerly breeze of around 11 knots, but as the day progressed the forecast rain showers hit and the wind increased throughout the afternoon. Two races were finished by all but the SL16 class, before the conditions deteriorated and the fleets were sent in. In the RS:X girls fleet Laura Linares (ITA), the two-time Youth gold medallist had a faultless day with two first places and even managed to overtake a few of the boy windsurfers who had started before her. “It was quite tiring and cold out there today, but I am pleased with my results,” she commented. “The wind was quite shifty where we were, from 15 -18 knots with choppy waters.” The Cypriot windsurfer, Michalis Malekkides mirrored Linares’ performance with two first places in the boy’s fleet, with Thiseas Kampas from Greece close in second place. It was a good first day for another Cypriot, Pavlos Kontides, the defending champion in the Laser class who got his series underway in style by leading the first race from start to finish. However, in the second race he was left at the back of the fleet after hitting the pin end at the start and doing penalty turns, but sailed through the fleet to recover to second place behind Denmark’s Thorbjørn Schierup. For Kontides, as well as this being his fifth and final year at the Youth Worlds, it is also his last event before he travels to Qingdao to represent Cyprus at the 2008 Olympic Games. Despite his mistake in race 2, Kontides was more than happy with his performance today. “I have had a great day,” he said. “This event is run just like the Olympics you don’t have to worry about anything other than sailing as everything is sorted for you.” In the Laser Radial class, the 2007 champion also started well with Gabrielle King (AUS) lying second overall to Isabella Bertold of Canada. Denmark’s Cathrine Sofie Hall is third. In the multihull event, contested in the SL16 class for the first time, the competitors had a lot to do to keep their boats upright and only managed to get one race in, won by French brothers Valentin and Romain Bellet. Crew Romain explained how he felt after the action of the day. “We had a good first race but the second the fleet could not finish. The wind was steady for us but there was a lot of chop. The Danish and English team are our biggest competitors but the Singapore team are pretty good too.” The SL 16 class is the only open event at the regatta, with boys and girls competing in the same fleet. The breeze and the waves made for exciting but testing conditions in the two 29er fleets. The British pair of Frances Peters and Claire Lasko lead the girls fleet, just ahead of Australia’s Hannah Nattrass and Michelle Muller. “Communication was the big thing for us,” said Nattrass following her team’s fourth and first place finishes today. “There were a lot of rain squalls and clouds, so we had to make sure we were always on the look out.” Nattrass and Muller won a bronze medal in 2007 and the Aussie helm is pretty clear on her ambitions for this year, “Shell [crew Michelle Muller] and I are both here for one reason. I’m sure that’s why everyone else is here. They’re not here to make up the numbers. They’re here to stand on the podium at the end!” The Australian pairing went one better in the Boy’s 29er fleet, with Byron White and Rhys Mara (AUS) leading overall after two second place finishes today. They are closely followed by the Argentinean team of Germán Billoch and Gastón Cheb Terrab and James Peters and Edward Fitzgerald of Great Britain. Yesterday saw the competitors’ parade through the city proudly waving their country flags following a swing marching band to the Town Hall, where they were officially welcomed to Denmark. The Opening Ceremony was a Royal affair with the HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark greeting the teams, volunteers and Organizing Committee to the city of Århus. As a keen sailor himself and the Patron of the event he wished the competitors good luck and said, “I wish you have a successful and memorable stay in Århus. I hope you compete well and engage in lifelong friendships with sailors from all over the world. Sail fast!” Following the traditional mixing of the waters ceremony, were a representative from each nation adds waters from their local sailing venue to the mixing bowl, ISAF President Göran Petersson officially opened this year’s championship. Other dignitaries at the ceremony were Århus Mayor Nicolai Wammen and Knut Frostad, CEO of Volvo Ocean Race. Knut Frostad commented, “Volvo is very proud to be sponsoring such an important event for youth sailors of the world. Many competitors in the Volvo Ocean Race have competed in this event and other youth championships, this shows us how important these events are and how some of you sailors will grow up to be the skippers and crew in the Volvo Ocean Race.” Racing continues in Århus tomorrow, with the forecast for less intense wind conditions than today, although the rain showers look set to continue. The first races are scheduled for a 12:00 start. For full results go to: http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results.aspx Simon Michaelson and Jacob Dannefer of Denmark are lying in first position after two races, sailing an SL16 Multihull at this years Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. Photo credit: David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition This report from South African Sailing Team Manager, Colin Whitehead: Well the first day was started with big winds and very choppy water. Early on the wind was southerly 15 knots which built to around 25 knots on the SL 16 and 29'er courses and even stronger on the laser course up to 28 knots. Rudi had a tough day but managed to hold onto two 24ths, Claire battled in the strong wind and waves and came in 37 and 32 but to her credit she did not capsize in the strong winds. Taariq and Neil unfortunately were too keen to get away in the first race and ended with an OCS. Their second race there was a single recall which they thought was them and returned to the line but they were not over, however they recovered to 14th which was a tough fight. Matt and Michael had a great day on the SL with a 5th and 4th place The team, has high spirits and are looking forward to today's sailing, winds are predicted to be lighter today at around 10 to 15 knots. The South African positions: 1. Rudi McNeill - Laser, 25th after two races 2. Claire Walker - Laser 3. Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan - 29'er, 20th after two races 4. Mathew Whitehead and Michael Ovenstone - Sirena SL16, 4th after two races. Full Story »

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