Day one of RS:X World Championships

2008 RS:X World Championship
Takapuna Boating Club, North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand - 10th – 20th January 2008
http://www.rsxclass.com/08worlds.html

PRESS RELEASE

By: Jodie Bakewell-White

Day one of RS:X World Championships

Racing at the RS:X World Championships got underway today at Takapuna Boating Club on Auckland’s North Shore.

After a postponement due to light winds, racing started and two races were sailed in both the men’s and women’s fleets in a NNE breeze of around six to eight knots. With just two races to count the points table is tight at the top.

There is a three way tie on the leader board for the men’s title after day one. Tom Ashley NZL, Shahar Zubari ISR & Ivan Pastor Lafuente ESP are all on four points. Both Ashley and Zubari had one win and a third place in today’s races, while Lafuente was second in both his races.

The men were first to race with the 120 competitors split into yellow and blue groups. During the first three days of racing the blue and yellow groups will be re-shuffled daily based on overall standings from the previous day.

The women took to the course mid afternoon and sailed two races coming ashore around 5:30pm in the evening.

Alessandra Sensini ITA had an outstanding start winning both her races on day one. Barbara Kendall NZL shares second place with Charline Piccon FRA both scoring a win and a second in the two races sailed today.

Race One - Men

Shahar Zubari of Israel took out race one in the yellow group leading the race from start to finish. He crossed the finish line around 50 seconds ahead of Piotr Myszka of Poland, who climbed his way through the fleet to finish in second place. Local windsurfer Jon Paul Tobin was third in race one of the yellow group.

In the blue fleet Nikolas Kaklamanakis of Greece was won race one leading from start to finish. Ivan Pastor Lafuente of Spain was able to pull in New Zealand’s Tom Ashley as the race unfolded overtaking the kiwi who was second until the final mark. Lafuente finished second and Ashley finished third.

Race Two - Men

Portuguese windsurfer Joao Rodrigues took out race two in the yellow group, with Ho Chi Ho close behind in second place. Zubari added a third place to his race one win to complete a great start to the regatta.

In the blue group Tom Ashley rounded mark one in third place but climbed up to lead around mark four and take out race two. It was pay back for Spaniard Lafuente who crossed the line in second place behind Ashley. France’s Nicholas Le Gal was third.

Race One - Women

Alessandra Sensini won race one in the yellow group while Blanca Manchon of Spain was second and reining Olympic champion Faustine Merret of France was third.

In the blue group Charline Piccon of France overtook local legend Barbara Kendall on the final leg of race one to take the win, with Kendall crossing in second place. Young Italian Laura Linares was third in her first race.

Race Two – Women

Sensini of Italy took out race two, Marina Alabau was second and Peina Chen of China crossing over a minute behind her in third.

The top three place getters in the blue group were the same as in race one although the order changed… Barbara Kendall won race two just ahead of Charline Piccon while Laura Linares was third.

Provisional Top Ten Standings
RS:X Men’s World Championships Day One

1st = Tom Ashley NZL – 4 points (3, 1)
1st = Shahar Zubari ISR – 4 points (1, 3)
1st = Ivan Pastor Lafuente ESP – 4 points (2, 2)
4th = Piotr Myszka POL – 7 points (2, 5)
4th = Nicholas Le Gal FRA – 7 points (4, 3)
4th = Jon-Paul Tobin NZL – 7 points (3, 4)
7th = Ho Chi Ho HKG – 11 points (9, 2)
7th = Nimrod Mashiah ISR – 11points (4, 7)
9th Nick Dempsey GBR – 12 points (5, 7)
10th Nikolas Kaklamanakis GRE – 14 points (1, 13)

Provisional Top Ten Standings
RS:X Women’s World Championships Day One

1st Alessandra Sensini ITA - 2 points (1, 1)
2nd = Barbara Kendall NZL – 3 points (2, 1)
2nd = Charline Piccon FRA – 3 points (1, 2)
4th = Marina Alabau ESP – 4 points (3, 1)
4th = Blanca Manchon ESP – 4 points (1, 3)
6th = Peina Chen CHN – 6 points (4, 2)
6th = Faustine Merret FRA – 6 points (2, 4)
6th = Laura Linares ITA – 6 points (3, 3)
9th Mingli Duan CHN – 12 points (5, 7)
10th Lise Vidal FRA – 13 points (7, 6)

For full results visit http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html

Images for editorial use

Professional images of today’s racing taken by Ocean Photography will be available for editorial use. To view visit http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html
Please email jodie@yachtingnz.org.nz

Further information is available from:
2008 RS:X World Championship website: http://www.rsxclass.com/worlds2008.html

ENDS

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