| TREVEMUENDE, GERMANY-(29-7-2006) Due to a lack of wind, the last day of qualifiers ended with no sailing today at the 470 Junior World Championship in Travemuende, Germany. Until today, the event has all ingredients of an exciting game where weather circumstances and patience demand the utmost of its players.
During the past days of the event, 470 junior sailors FANTELA/MARENIC (CRO) and EYAL/YAM (ISR) have been ruling the races on equal points, closely followed by PATIENCE/GRUBE (GBR). Yesterday however, the junior sailors from Croatia managed to catch the lead with an advantage of points.
Today, racing should have taken place, putting the main leaders from Croatia, Israel and Great Brittain in the position to fight for the advantage for the final medal race that takes place tomorrow. No wind leaves yesterday’s results unchanged after eight races.
Yesterday will maybe have been the most demanding day sofar. The fleet went out by noon with hope that the upcoming sea breeze would stay. The weather seemed quite disturbed by thunderstorms and heavy winds during the night and light rain pushed away the remaining breeze. A few hopeful upcoming light breezes seemed to be too shifty to get racing started.
Finally, in the late afternoon at 17:00, the wind stabilized and the race Committee was confident to push at least one race through for the day. This was what the sailors had been waiting for all day. Knowing they were about to finalize the qualifiers, nerves took over and boats pushed each other over the line shortly before the starting signal. After a few general recalls the Race Committee hoisted the Black Flag to get racing underway. For thirteen teams the race was over, the leaders got out of trouble.
In very light winds, other sailors then last few day’s favorites took their chances and took control of racing. The leaders from Croatia, Israel and Great Brittain all had a fair race, resp. 10, 11, 13, allowing their hunters to get closer. In this stage, they weren’t even aware that they would not have the chance to strengthen their positions for the final Medal race because of today’s wind circumstances.
Although there was no serious danger from German side within the first three days, LORENZ/GEBERT managed to win yesterday’s race in their Group, which gives them good cards in a fifth overall postion in the Finals.
The Medal Race will take place tomorrow.
For Results, go to: http://www.travemuender-woche.net/showobject.phtml?La=2&object=tx|380.188.1
|
