World Laser Radial Men's Championship 2007 Reports
July 27th to August 3rd 2007 - The Hague, The Netherlands
Day 6, Friday August 3rd, 2007
Final day of racing.
The Brith Ben Paton, though with disappointing results today, became the 2007 World Laser Radial Champion for the men. It was a close call until the very end with uncertainties as to who would win, Ben Paton or Eduard van Vianen(NED)? With only a difference of 2 points the title belonged to Ben.
For the Dutch competitors this event was a huge success. Three men on the podium of which the silver and bronze positions were both Dutch. Steven Krol was very pleased with 3rd place, according ot him "it's a good way to end such a fantastic event"
Results
1. Ben Paton (GBR)
2. Eduardo van Vianen (NED)
3. Steven Krol (NED)
4. Jon Emmett (GBR)
5. James Burman (AUS)
Day 5, Thrusday August 2nd, 2007
First time all the top competitors sailed together and the pressure showed!
For only the second time in the Laser Radial World and European Championships the Race Committee was able to start on time. The small high pressure system that was over the course area yesterday was replaced by a weak low pressure that produced a steady 9 to 11 knot north westerly wind. The current was again a significant factor streaming from north, north east.
Eduardo Vianen NED looked solid after the first race of the day leading home joint second overall Ben Paton from GBR whilst his next 4 closest challengers all scored worse than 20th. Surprisingly Vianen slipped up on the first windward leg of the second race of the day. He said "I had a reasonable start but did not clear my wind". His coach said "he stood on into the stronger current instead of tacking to stay in the weaker current". Paton won the race from Timofey Zhbankov RUS and Marko Sestan CRO. Vianen took his discard scoring a 38th and in doing dropped to second overall 7 points behind Paton.
Two races more are scheduled for the final day. Both events are far from over
Provisional results after 6 races with 1 discard:
1. Ben Paton GBR 10pts
2. Eduardo Vianen NED 17pts
3. Steven Krol NED 23pts
Day 4, Wednesday August 1st, 2007
Eduardo Vianen holds on to his lead
A 4 hour wait afloat for competitors in the Laser Radial World and European Championships was rewarded with one race completed when an unexpected 9 knot sea breeze developed on the race area. Even more fortunate was the fact that it arrived just before the slack period of the spring tide.
With tight racing Eduardo Vianen held on to his lead with an 8th place after his previous challengers, Stephen Cockerill GBR and Douwe Brooekens NED slipped out of the top 3 with scores of 12th and 39th.
The fleet is now split into Gold and Silver for the remaining 2 days. One more race is needed to validate the championship and bring a drop race into the scoring.
Provisional results after 4 races without discard:
1. Eduardo Vianen NED 16pts
2. Steven Fevre NED 18pts
3. Ben Paton GBR 18pts
Day 3, Tuesday July 31st, 2007
Not enough wind and strong currents!
After no racing on the second day due to strong wind and waves over 2.5m high the third day of the Laser Radial World and European Championship was a complete contrast of not enough wind. The race committee started the two Women's European Championship fleets and the first of the men's World championship fleets under grey skies and a light north west wind. As the second men's fleet waited for the course to clear the wind died to below 5 knots and racing for the first three fleets was abandoned.
As the clouds cleared the breeze came back at 10 knots 25 degrees further to the west and the course was re-set. Each of the women's fleets started at the second attempt but the first of the men's fleets continuously pushed the line in spite of the black flag rule being in force. After 16 boats were disqualified for breaking the line during the minute before the start the fleet finally got away on the 4th attempt. The second men's fleet were far less trouble.
Defending champion, Evi Van Acker from Belgium, consolidated her overall lead by winning her fleet. Afterwards she said "I am very pleased. I had a good start and good speed and I led from start to finish". In the women's fleets the top sailors all handled the lighter conditons well except for Crotia's Gea Barbic whose 29th dropped her from 3rd to 15th overall.
It was a different story for the men. Overall joint leader, Douwe Boekens from Holland, said before the race "I was fast in the strong winds of the first day but it could be a different story if the wind goes light". His fears were well founded as he finished 15th in his fleet. "I had a disaster" he said afterwards. His disaster was not so great but it did drop him to third. His place was taken by fellow Dutchman, Eduardo Vianen who had previously shared the lead. His 5th place gives him a five point lead over the chasing pack.
The Race Committee attempted to start the second of three races scheduled at 1700 but abandoned their attempt as the spring tide produced a two knot cross course current making it virtually impossible for the boats to make forward progress when beating into the current on starboard tack in the 8 knot wind.
The qualifier series is extended into the 4th day and 3 more races are scheduled. However the building high pressure over the southern North Sea does not give much promise of winds of over 8 knots. Once again the only window for a race could be during slack water time.
Provisional results after 3 races:
1. Eduardo Vianen NED 8pts
2. Stephen Cockerill GBR 13pts
3. Douwe Broekens NED 16 pts
Day 2, Monday July 30th, 2007
Winds that had been expected for Sunday came on Monday
Monday was a long day of waiting. Winds that had been expected for Sunday came on Monday and early in the morning it was decided not to launch. There was a heavy swell coming from the United Kingdom, so it would have been difficult to get the dinghies through the surf. At 18:00 the Race Committee decided with a 3 meter swell it would not be safe to sail.
Expectations for Tuesday are good. There will be less wind and three races are planned for this 3rd Regatta day. The first start is at 11:00. More news, pictures and results can be found at: www.laserklasse.nl/radial2007
Day 1, Sunday July 29th, 2007
Strong winds and rain were expected for the first race day!
Strong winds and rain were expected for the first race day of the
Euros/Worlds Laser Radial in Scheveningen. Unfortunately the weather gods
were not well-inclined towards us and the day started with a drizzle and a
nice North-Easterly wind. Soon the sun came out and the wind picked up. At
approximately 10.00AM all 220 Lasers were on the water and this Championship
actually started.
With four Dutch sailors in the first 5 positions the Dutch Men had a terrific start of great event. Due to the wind these strong men were faster than most others. Douwe Broekens and Eduardo van Vianen lead with both 3 points (both a 1st and a 2nd). Mathieu Frei (CAL) is on the 3rd place with a 4th and a 2nd. This promises intense racing in the Men fleet.
The weather forecast for Monday is the same as for today: strong winds and high waves: a beautiful sailing day.