Friday 27th of May, 2011
Delta Lloyd day four
Kljakovic Gaspic wins tough day on IJsselmeer
Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) takes the lead in the Finns on day four of the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik after a thrilling display in tough and
challenging conditions. Ed Wright (GBR) is not far behind in second while Brendan Casey (AUS) moves up to third after a solid day, some 16 points
clear of the rest of the fleet.
After losing Thursday's racing because of some very strong winds battering Medemblik, the sailors were keen to make up lost time on Friday. But the
IJsselmeer was still not particularly inviting on Friday, with harsh 20 knot winds, persistent rain and dropping temperatures. It was a day to sail
tough and be tough.
Race five started under black flag with the only casualty being third placed overall Vasiliy Zbogar (SLO). The race win went to last year’s winner
here Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) from Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) and Brendan Casey (AUS).
Race six brought Dan Slater (NZL) to the front. Apart from two black flag disqualifications, Slater has been putting together a good series. He
eventually won the race in front of Casey and Kljakovic Gaspic.
Overnight leader Ed Wright (GBR) scored two fourth places to drop to second overall behind Kljakovic Gaspic, while Casey moves up to third. Casey
wasn't the only Australian having a good day. Returning class stalwart Rob McMillan (AUS) picked up a 10, 7 to climb to 13th overall and within
striking distance of the medal race after the final qualification races on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the fleet, Pitotr Kula (POL) had a consistent day with a 7, 5 to move ahead of index rival Rafal Szukiel (POL) who placed 18, 11.
Meanwhile, Gasper Vincec (SLO) is winning the battle of the Slovenians, taking a two point advantage over Zbogar following his earlier black flag.
The top three are starting to extend on the fleet, with Kljakovic Gspic and Wright the only two to indextain a top 10 scoreline so far. Casey is one of
several trying out a new boat this week. He said, “I was getting good starts, and the new boat feels very fast. The races were good when they got
them going.”
Despite carrying a black flag disqualification, Slater is now up to 15th and could still make the medal race. He said, “It was a very positive day
for me. It was very shifty but I managed to get in phase with the shifts. At the top mark Timo Haggort (NED) was in front but I passed him on the
reach and extended my lead on run, and then the race was over.”
About his two black flags, Slater commented, “They could have gone either way. On one black flag I was the only one caught and it could well have
been someone else. But I am sailing fast in my new boat.
Overall leader Kljakovic Gaspic commented on race five. “I was pretty fast and made a good call on first beat. I rounded top mark first and then
extended my lead to finish first. It was very windy, about 17-22 knots and quite steep waves. It wasn't easy.”
“I sailed well, and I am pleased as the conditions were demanding, with a strong and unstable wind. But the race committee kept us waiting a long
time, so we are all feeling tired and freezing so it's adding an extra burden.”
On the decision to cancel racing on Thursday, he said, “Yesterday it was just too windy and risky for equipment as the shallow water is dangerous
for breaking your mast.”
The final qualification races will be sailed on Saturday before the medal race for the top 10 on Sunday. The medal race will be tracked live through
the event website
Results after 6 races:
1CRO 524Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic9
2GBR 11Edward Wright12
3AUS 1Brendan Casey18
4SLO 5Gasper Vincec34
5SLO 573Vasilij Zbogar36
6POL 17Piotr Kula36
7NED 842Pieter-Jan Postma41
8CRO 25Marin Misura46~
9CAN 5Greg Douglas48
10POL 7Rafal Szukiel55
Photos: Sander van der Borch
Event website: www.deltalloydregatta.org
Event facebook page: www.facebook.com/deltalloydregattaswc
Live updates: twitter.com/DeltaLloydRegat
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