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Open Europeans Helsinki 2011
Übersicht
12.07.2011
Finn focus at Open Europeans Helsinki 2011
sponsored by: and
Media summary
Three more races for the 71 boat Finn fleet brings it back on schedule. Defending champion Ivan Kjlakovic Gaspic (CRO) hangs onto the overall lead,
though the race wins today went to Giles Scott (GBR) and Pieter Jan Postma (NED). Scott is now the biggest threat to Kljakovic Gaspic retaining the
title he has held for the past two years.
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Scott won Race 6 by an impressively large margin, leading and extending at every mark. Then the Race 7, Rafa Trujillo (ESP) led until the final
downwind when Scott and Giorgio Poggi (ITA) got past soon after the top mark, giving Scott his second race win of the day. In Race 8, Postma made the
best of a large left hand shift out of the start and led at every mark for a comfortable race win.
Kljakovic Gaspic picked up a consistent 3, 5, 4 in today's moderately windy conditions, but Scott has narrowed his lead to just five points. Andrew
Mills (GBR) drops one to third after a 5, 10, 2 today and there is a further 18 point gap on the rest of the fleet.
In the Junior European Championship, Egor Terpigorev (RUS) has a one point lead over Josip Olujic (CRO), while Julian Massler (GER) has regained third
spot from Milosz Wojewski (POL) after clearly liking the breezy conditions today with three good results.
Scott said of his great day, “It was kind of needed actually. In the first race I got to the top mark in the lead and in that kind of stuff I think
it pays to have clear air and if you are out in front it's really easy to extend. The race was quite nice and comfortable for me, and stress free. I
was also very much aware we had three races and I took it quite easy coming into the top mark and then just did enough to keep the lead over Rafa.”
“It's put a bit of pressure on Ivan and hopefully my legs will be recovered by tomorrow and I will try and do the same again. But today was quite
good fun as it was great sailing.”
Racing for the Finns continues with the final two full fleet races on Wednesday. The medal race for the top 10 and the final race for the rest is on
Thursday 14 July.
Europeans, Helsinki - Scott dominates but Kljakovic Gaspic still leads
Two race wins for Giles Scott (GBR) moves him up to within five points of the defending Finn European Champion, Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) at the
Open Europeans Helsinki 2011, after eight races have been sailed. Andrew Mills (GBR) drops one to third, which a nice gap on the rest of the fleet
going into Wednesday's final two qualification races.
Three races on Tuesday in moderately strong winds brings the 71 boat Finn fleet back on schedule, after losing its opening day on Saturday. The day
started wet and windless and ended sunny and spectacular with 14-16 knots winds and fantastic surfing waves.
Race 6 finally started under black flag in 10-12 knots with Oscar flag for free pumping going up at the first mark and staying up for the rest of the
day. Giles Scott rounded the top mark from Kljakovic Gaspic and Rafa Trujillo (ESP) and extended on each and every leg to take a great win. Johan
Tillander (SWE) moved up to third by the second windward mark, but Kljakovic Gaspic put his foot down on the final downwind and crossed in third, just
a few boatlengths ahead of the Swede.
Timo Haggort (NED) was the early leader in Race 7 from Trujillo and Daniel Birgmark (SWE). Trujillo rounded the gate ahead and looked to be heading
for an easy win. However the wrong gybe at the last top mark allowed Scott and Giorgio Poggi (ITA) to sail past in more pressure for first and second.
Haggort said, “I benefited from a huge shift to the left, and after a reasonable start I managed to be first at the top mark, and finished sixth
which is OK for me, my best result at a Europeans. I was pleased to be so fast on the downwind, but it is getting better and better. Rafa was just in
front of me at the gate, so I was quite happy with that first downwind, but I think I need a little bit more aggression there. On the second downwind
I went too deep at the start, so that was a big mistake and I dropped from second to sixth.”
Rafa, “I had a few issues downwind, today, but my starting was better. I also had a clear strategy today and after I had two good races, I had no
energy left in the third, so I was very happy that the wind was shifting and it looked like we had one tack and one gybe. So I am pretty happy today,
my goal today was three top 10 places and I got the three top six places and can keep fighting for another day.”
“In the second race I gybed at the top mark to take the last shift at the end of the upwind and I was heading to the finish thinking everything was
OK, then Giles and Giorgio rounded and went the other way and when I realised this, they were already on top of me. Giles is clearly the fastest guy
here downwind. My objective here is top five overall, which is quite difficult, as it's a pretty tough fleet, but if I make top five then I am
automatically selected for the Olympic Games.”
The last race of the day, Race 8, was characterised by a large left shift on the first beat, with Pieter Jan Postma (NED) opening up a nice lead and
extending throughout. Trujillo again rounded in second, but faded away to sixth, letting Andrew Mills (GBR) and Scott through to second and third.
Postma said, “The wind shifted before the start, 20 degrees to the left, so everybody was reaching into the pin end, but I was already there. Then
the whole fleet tacked off to the mark and we could actually lay it in one, putting the bow down as fast as possible to the next shift. The wind
stayed left all the race, except the last few minutes of the beat, then I could tack and was clear. After that it was a done deal. The downwind was a
little bit of a low reach and on the second upwind it was more about covering the fleet.”
“But I am not happy with my performance today. I had a capsize in the first race downwind, so it wasn't the best day. I was good at times, but I
have a bit to do tomorrow.”
Championship leader, Kljakovic Gaspic, picked up a consistent 3, 5, 4 today to stay in control, but Scott has narrowed his lead to just five points
and is probably now the biggest threat to the Croatian retaining the title he has held for the past two years. Mills drops one to third overall after
a 5, 10, 2 today.
In the Junior European Championship, things are very tight. Egor Terpigorev (RUS) has a scant one point lead over Josip Olujic (CRO), while Julian
Massler (GER) has regained third spot from Milosz Wojewski (POL) after clearly liking the breezy conditions today with three good results.
Scott said of his great day, “I had a better day. It was kind of needed actually. In the first race I got to the top mark in the lead and in that
kind of stuff I think it pays to have clear air and if you are out in front it's really easy to extend. The race was quite nice and comfortable for
me, and stress free. I was also very much aware we had three races and I took it quite easy coming into the top mark and then just did enough to keep
the lead over Rafa.”
“Rafa had a good lead in the second race. I caught up to him really quickly and then for half the run we were level, and then I got the better of
him.”
“In the last race there was a massive left shift and then it went even more in the second beat, and I wasn't expecting that. And once it went I
thought it can't go any more, then it went another 10-20 degrees by the second windward mark. I just got onto port immediately thinking it's got to
come back, and I was going towards the starboard layline, and I was beginning to worry a bit, but I found one to come back in on. And I was fast
downwind today, which was nice”
“It's put a bit of pressure on Ivan and hopefully my legs will be recovered by tomorrow and I will try and do the same again. But today was quite
good fun as it was great sailing.”
Follow the racing as it happens at the event blog at: http://www.openeuropeans2011.com/eventsites/classpage_microsite.asp?eventid=65354&cid=78 (
http://www.openeuropeans2011.com/eventsites/classpage_microsite.asp?eventid=65354&cid=78 )
This will be updated each day with the @Finn_Class Twitter feed from on the water, photos, blog entries and video links on the day's action.
Racing for the Finns continues with the final two full fleet races on Wednesday. The medal race for the top 10 and the final race for the rest on
Thursday 14 July.
Results after eight races:
1CRO 524Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPIC20
2GBR 41Giles SCOTT25
3GBR 85Andrew MILLS28
4NED 842Pieterjan POSTMA46
5FRA 29Thomas LE BRETON46
6ESP 100Rafael TRUJILLO VILLAR51
7GBR 11Ed WRIGHT58
8FRA 112Jonathan LOBERT62
9SLO 573Vasilij ZBOGAR66
10SWE 11Daniel BIRGMARK68
Event website: www.openeuropeans2011.com ( http://www.openeuropeans2011.com/ ) - Event blog (
http://www.openeuropeans2011.com/eventsites/classpage_microsite.asp?eventid=65354&cid=78 ) This press release is sponsored by: and
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