World Laser Radial Youth Championship 2008 Reports
Mon 24th March 2008 - Sat 29th March 2008
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Saturday 29 March - Day 6
The final day of racing showed similar conditions to what the sailors have experienced all week, fifteen knot north-easterlies with a reasonable swell, making it another easy day for the race committee to get all races away.
Andy Maloney (NZL) has comfortably taken out the Youth Mens title, cruising to a seven point lead ahead of Martin Evans (GBR). Max Moerman Maarten (NED) fought his way back to finish in third place.
In the Youth female contest, the title came down to the last race between Gabrielle King (AUS) and Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL). Gabrielle finishing first and Cushla second, secured the title for Gabrielle on a count back. Sarah Gunni (DEN) had third and ninth placings in the races today to hold onto third place.
Canadian Michael Leigh had another top day today with a first and second placing to prove again why he has finished top of the Mens fleet. Brad Funk (USA) came in a very comfortable second with a fourteen point gap over third place, taken by Simon Morgan (AUS) after having another consistent day to finish up on forty points.
Prize giving will be held tonight at the North Harbour stadium to wrap up the Laser Radial Men and Youth Contests. This marks the final event undertaken by Takapuna Boating Club over the past four months, who would like to thank all the volunteers and sponsors involved.
Friday 28th March 2008 - Day 5
There were similar weather conditions again today for day five of the men and youth contests. The north-easterly direction of breeze has held strong for the week bringing today 15-20knots of wind. With the tide turning around one pm, the second race got underway in a one and a half meter swell.
No change to the top two in the Youth Men’s fleet with Andy Maloney (NZL) holding firm in the top spot on fourteen points and Martin Evans (GBR) still in second on twenty-one points. Tom Burton (AUS) has taken up third today, obviously enjoying the windier conditions, posting a first and third.
The two at the top of the Youth Female fleet have switched places again, Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL) scoring two wins today to overtake Gabrielle King (AUS) who sits in second place. Sarah Gunni (DEN) has held on to third with two seconds, closing the points gap on the leaders as the second discard has been brought in.
With the top two in the Men’s fleet well out in front the race is on for third place, swapping around again today now that the second discard has been brought in. Michael Leigh (CAN) and Brad Funk (USA) both scored well today to sit thirteen points ahead of third place. Simon Morgan (AUS) jumped up into third place sitting on thirty-two points, closely followed by James Sandall (NZL) on thirty-five points and James Burman (AUS) on thirty-eight points.
Thursday 27th March 2008 - Day 4
Windy conditions arrived this morning averaging eighteen knots; however by the starting time the breeze seemed to have settled in to around ten knots in a north-easterly direction.
Business as usual for Andy Maloney (NZL) again today, having another two ‘keepers’ with a first and forth, stretching his lead to ten points in the Youth Men’s fleet. Martin Evans (GBR) held on to second while Cam McKee (NZL) moved on up the score board with a third and first. Tonight the fleets are split into gold and silver.
The second race for the Youth Female fleet saw a few of the top sailors caught out by a big wind shift. Gabrielle King (AUS) took over the lead with a very consistent day scoring a first and second. Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL) dropped back to second after scoring a second and a seventeenth today while Sarah Gunni (DEN) held on to third place with a third and thirteenth.
The Men’s fleet also saw a few upsets with some sailors scoring big as the wind shifted. Scoring the worst result of his regatta so far has done little to upset Michael Leigh’s (CAN) lead, he has a comfortable eleven point lead over Brad Funk (USA), who had to retire from race seven having snapped his mast. He bounced back with a seventh to hold a nine point lead over third place. James Sandall (NZL) had a perfect score today with two firsts to jump back into third.
Wednesday 26th March 2008 - Day 3
Conditions were again proving to be pretty spectacular with north-easterlies of 12-18 knot breezes giving the sailors a good workout in big waves. With the discard now in, results have seen a mix-up, but in all three fleets, the leaders continued to stay out in front of the opposition today.
In the Men’s Youth fleet, Andy Maloney (NZL) started the day off well with a third but slipped up with a starting penalty in race six. With the discard now in the results he is still eight points clear of second. Martin Evans (GBR) is now in second on seventeen points having scored a third and first today and Max Moerman Maarten (NED) is in third on eighteen points.
Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL) retains her lead in the Female Youth fleet with a four point margin over Gabrielle King (AUS) in second place. While Sarah Gunni (DEN) jumped up the score board into third place after discarding a starting penalty in race two.
Having not finished outside the top two in all of his races, Michael Leigh (CAN) is showing a dominant performance in the Men’s fleet, pulling away from Brad Funk (USA) in second place who is four points off the lead. Having been able to discard a starting penalty, Simon Morgan (AUS) sits in third place.
A fantastic effort has been done by the North Shore City Council who is providing pasta each afternoon once racing is completed. It has been very well received by sailors, coaches and volunteers alike.
Tuesday 25th March 2008 - Day 2
Summer seemed to be trying to hold on this morning as sunshine greeted the competitors on day two of the men’s and youth contests. Being New Zealand this didn’t last long but where it counted, the weather came through again. Another day of steady 12-15 knot north-easterly breezes allowed the race committee to get another two races for each fleet away.
Starting first again today in moderate seas were the men’s youth fleet. Replicating Matt Vincent’s great start, Andy Maloney (NZL) produced two wins today giving him a comfortable nine point lead. Brazilian Guilherme Pereira moved into second place with a sixth and a fifth giving him fifteen points, just ahead of Sam Meech (NZL) on sixteen points in third place.
In the women’s fleet Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL) retained her lead today, after being very consistent with a string of seconds she posted her first win of the regatta reveling in the conditions the day brought. 'I was happy with my seconds and being so consistent but I sorted my downwind in the second race today and was pleased to get a win.'
Gabrielle King (AUS) held onto second place with a first and a seventh, while Claire Dennis (USA) leapt up the scoreboard having had a did not finish in race two reinstated with a seventh. She scored a ninth and sixth today to sit in third place.
In the men’s fleet, world ranked Laser sailors Michael Leigh (CAN) and Brad Funk (USA) have moved away from the fleet, points are still close between the pair, with Michael scoring two wins today and sitting on six points and Brad scoring two seconds and sitting on eight points.
Kiwi James Sandall is hanging on to third place on twenty-seven points.
Monday 24th March 2008 - Day 1
Day One of the 2008 Laser Radial Men’s and Youth World Championship got underway today, starting on time at 11am. The day brought superb sailing conditions with a constant 8-10 knots of breeze from a north-easterly direction. With the pressure of getting four fleets underway (Youth Men’s split into two) and two races for each fleet each day, the race committee welcomed the consistent breeze.
Tide would have been mentioned in everyone’s conversation today as all the fleets are littered with numerous starting penalties with sailors being caught out by the spring tides. The Youth Men’s fleet being the worst hit with seventeen black flag penalties in the second race of the day.
New Zealand tops the leader board in both the Youth Men’s and Youth Female fleets. In the Youth Men’s fleet Matt Vincent pulled out a fantastic start to the regatta with two wins. Andy Maloney (NZL) is second equal on points with Guilherme Pereira (BRA) on one win and a third placing. In the Youth Female fleet Cushla Hume-Merry (NZL) is on four points with Gabrielle King (AUS) nipping at her heals in second on five points and Chloe Martin (GBR) third on twelve points.
The Men’s fleet is hotly contested with many local laser sailors taking advantage of a world contest nearby and jumping into the radial. Giving them a run for their money are top Laser sailors Brad Funk (USA) and Michael Leigh (CAN) who are first equal on points at the top of the Men’s fleet. James Sandall (NZL) is third on twelve points.