Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson and team of Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb sailed well in the sea breeze conditions in the first Yngling race of the day to score a fourth place. The second race took place in a dying sea breeze and Robertson, Webb and Ayton managed to keep their heads together to cross the line in eighth place, which was enough to see them maintain the overall lead after two days of racing.

So far in the class, there has been a different race winner in each of the four races, and the British team have managed to establish a four point lead over the Russian team of Anna Basalkina, Vladislava Ukraintcheva and Galina Loukacheva.

Robertson commented, “It has been a tricky day today, especially in the second race. We made a few mistakes but on the whole are pleased with our performance so far.”

The 470 course also experienced light conditions and although the men’s fleet managed two races, the women’s second race was cancelled. After two further races Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield have moved up into second place overall, just three points off Benjamin and Romain Bonnaud of France. It was also a good day for fellow Brits Nic Asher and Elliot Willis who moved up into sixth place overall after scoring a thirteenth and a second.

Rogers commented, “It was a really hard day today and really difficult to try and predict what the wind was doing. We did not sail our best but are really pleased as we came to this regatta with the view of working on our race starts, as we felt this was a weak area in Palma, and so far we have had four good starts.”

A fourth place in the only race of the day for the women’s fleet saw Christina Bassadone and Katherine Hopson move up to eighth place overall, whilst Shelley Hesson and Linda Dickson of New Zealand moved into the overall lead.

The British Paralympic sailors continued to battle it out in the 2.4mR fleet for their ticket to Athens to represent Great Britain at the Paralympic Games. Helena Lucas scored a second and a fourth place to move up into second overall just two points behind Damien Seguin of France. Fellow Brit Allan Smith was also a strong contender on day two and a seventh and a second sees him in third place overall, just two points behind Lucas.

A further two races were sailed in the Laser fleet, who are competing in four qualifying groups, and Team GBR sailor Paul Goodison continued to climb up the score board. Scoring a seventh and a second place, he is currently lying in fifth place overall. Hamish Pepper of New Zealand currently leads the fleet from the present world champion Gustavo Lima of Portugal.

Tomorrow should see the final day of qualifying for the split fleets before they get into their final series, and all the competitors are hoping that tomorrow will also bring a little more wind.

The event concludes on Friday 30 April, with twelve races scheduled for all the fleets, except the 49er and Mistral classes who are scheduled sixteen.

Source: Corinne McKenzie