ISAF WORLD SAILING GAMES NEUSIEDLER SEE Report by Ailsa Angus and ISAF

Day 1 Race Report Registration and setting up of the windsurfing venue finished the evening before racing was due to commence.  With the past week having light winds the competitors were not optimistic, however the Race Committee must have spent the evening at church as the day greeted all the sailors with 15 to 17 knots of wind from the North West. 

The event organisers World Sailing Games GmbH have outdone themselves with the venue and set up.  The windsurfing fleet who are used to being allocated a small area to rig and rest, have been given a first class venue with plenty of space to rig, store equipment, rest tents and numerous refreshment tents.  Mike Crompton IVB remarked that he knew as soon as he arrived in Vienna that the event would be special as no request was too much for the organisers.

Due to the complexity of dividing the fleets, the start for both the men’s and women’s racing was delayed.  With only 26 competitors in the women’s fleet the women are able to race in one fleet and thereby keeping their allocated equipment throughout the Regatta, this should result in no further delays for them.  The women left the beach first and sailed off to the start boat.

The first race had to be abandoned due to the time limit running out.  The Race Committee did an excellent job of relaying the course and starting the women again with a minimum amount of time wasted.  In the second race Qiu Bin Chen of China took first place.  The third women’s race was started with the men’s yellow fleet finally out on the race course.  The Race Committee started the women followed five minutes later by the men’s fleet.  As the men use larger sails the men were able to catch up with the tail end of the women’s fleet making the mark roundings interesting. 

Australian sailor Anna Davis remarked that the Race Committee had excellent control with the start line at a good length and with each of the races being approximately 35 minutes long, this is ideal for RS:X racing.

The men’s fleet is divided into two fleets with competitors swapping equipment each day which adds confusion to both race organisers and the competitors.  The men’s yellow fleet finally left the beach at 1400hrs and managed to get 2 races in.  New Zealand sailor Tom Ashley took first and second respectively in the races to take the initial lead of the World Sailing Games, after a strong finish in both Palma and Hyeres Tom Ashley is a competitor to look out for.

After the Yellow men’s fleet had completed two races, they returned to shore to allow the Blue’s men’s fleet to race.  Before the start, China’s Ai Chen Wang broke his mast but a quick turnaround from the NeilPryde technical crew ensured that he was back at the start line in time for the first start.

Day 2 Race Report and everything is under control down at the windsurfing venue.  The sail numbers were issued for the men’s fleet early so competitors were able to rig up and head out to the start as scheduled.  A number of the sailors in the Yellow fleet were a little slow leaving the beach and by the time they reached the start line the first race of the day was already under way.  One competitor, Mariano Reutemann ARG, requested redress by the protest committee which was granted as they found that he arrived late to the start line through no fault of his own.

The Race Committee kept the women’s fleet on the beach until the Yellow fleet’s second race was under way to ensure that the women did not share the race area with the men making mark rounding’s difficult.

For the first start of the women’s race, the majority of the competitors chose to start on port tack, the wind was between 8 to 10 knots making it marginal planing conditions.  Both American sailors Farrah Hall and Karen Marriott were spotted over the line early and therefore received OCS to put an end to their first race.

First to the top mark was French sailor Charline Picon with current leader Qiu Bin Chen from China in mid fleet.  The second top mark rounding saw Japanese sailor Yuki Sunaga in front with a larger lead over Qiu Bin Chen, fellow team member Yasuko Kosuge, Charline Picon and China’s Wei Ming Liu.

Race 2 for the women’s again saw the competitors starting on port with the breeze dying to ensure a pumping race with no planing conditions.

The men’s blue fleet were sent out to start in 7 knots with gusting up to 10 knots.  Half the fleet took starboard while the other half took port.  The port tackers started with with speed while the starboard takers were holding on the line.  The competitors who took the left hand side of the course find a little more pressure than the right and had a large lead at the top mark.  Unfortunately leading Russian sailor Kirill Zaichenko had read the wrong course and lead the rest of the fleet to the course meaning that all the fleet scoured DSQ after the protest hearing, this will give a big advantage to the sailors of the Yellow fleet.

The second race did not fair any better with the leading sailor, Thomas Kargl of Austria, failing to make the first mark within the 10 minutes time limit therefore the race being abandoned.  The competitors sailed back to the start mark to start again in breeze which had died to 4 to 5 knots.  Polish sailor Lukasz Grodzicki had an amazing start to lead the rest of the fleet around the course.  The light winds were the perfect conditions for the young teenager who will definitely be one to watch in future races.

Day 4 Race Report, ISAF World Sailing Games

After waiting all day at the Windsurfing venue yesterday before the Race Committee wisely abandoned racing for the day, the weather report that greeted the competitors today was 1 knot gusting 2.  Needless to say that we are still waiting on shore to see if the breeze will materialise from somewhere, chances are that it won’t today and another day of racing will have been and gone.

The RS:X sailors had a class meeting this morning to determine the exact direction that they would like to see the class going forward in terms of race format and other aspect.  Once the meeting was over, in an effort to pass the time the windsurfing competitors have taken to volleyball, football and frisbee matches, what to order for lunch has been the highlight of the day. 

The Race Committee are planning on keeping the competitors at the venue in the hope of any breeze so that one or two races might happen.  If any racing takes place today a report will be put onto the website this evening.

Day 5 RS:X Race Report After the disapp--> name="view_imagefiles" v:shapes="_x0000_s1038">ointment of the last two days, Day 5 was perfect was perfect morning.  The Race Committee advised that the Yellow men’s fleet and the women would be leaving the beach together and on time.  One race would be held for the two men’s divisions and for the women as these are the final races for the qualifiers.  name="view_imagefiles" v:shapes="_x0000_s1039">

The men started cleanly on time at 1100hrs doing an outer loop course, the wind was 10 to 12 knots allowing the majority of the race to be planing conditions.  Shahar Zubari (ISR) managed to overtake Tom Ashley (NZL) on the last upwind leg to take first place, followed by Tom Ashley (NZL), Makoto Tomizawa (JPN), and Nimrod Mashiah (ISR).

The women starte name="view_imagefiles" v:shapes="_x0000_s1040"> d five minutes after the men’s Yellow fleet again with no individual recalls.  The conditions were flat water gusting in the beginning, Jannicke Stasslstrom (NOR) worried that the race might be shortened commented that the Race Committee did a fantastic job and read the conditions perfectly to allow the race to be completed in full.  As per day 1 and 2, Qiu Bin Chen (CHN) took control of the race to take the bullet to retain her overall lead in the qualifiers.  name="view_imagefiles" v:shapes="_x0000_s1041">

Both fleets returned to the beach to allow the change over in equipment between the men’s Yellow and Blue fleet.  One hour later the Blue fleet were signalled off the beach and they reached the start area in a building breeze to 18 knots, gusting to 24 knots.  The Blue fleet learning from Day 2 mistake sailed the correct course with Julien Bontemps (FRA), with a large lead, completing the race in 23 minutes.

After all the racing was completed Mike Crompton (ISV) commented “I love sailing the RS:X, to be able to go upwind and to be able to point so well and high at such a high speed is amazing?

Monday is a lay day for the sailors however many have signed up to continue to train as the finals start on Wednesday.

Day 6 RS:X Race Report Yet again the competitors arrived at the beach only to wait for 7 to 8 hours waiting for the wind to kick in, the lake was perfect for wakeboarding but not windsurfing.  At 1630hrs the Race Committee decided to allow the men’s silver fleet to go home as there was no possibility of getting the men’s gold fleet, women’s and the men’s silver fleet racing.

At 1715hrs with approximately 5 knots of breeze the Race Committee signalled for the men’s Gold fleet and the women’s fleet to get ready and head out to the start boat.  The men started first in 5 knots with the wind building slightly with some able to plane on the first reach and the first downwind.  Unfortunately the breeze did not hold and the rest of the race turned into a pumping race.  Ukraine sailor Maksym Oberemko taking first place followed by Greek sailor Byron Kokkalanis and French sailor Julien Bontemps. 

The women’s race was started 10 minutes after the men’s start but by this time the breeze had dropped to 2 to 3 knots making the race non planing.  Lead qualifier Chinese sailor, Qiu Bin Chen again dominated the fleet to take first place followed by Polish Youth sailor Malgorzata Bialecka.

The Race Committee decided to try for another race however this did not prove to be a good decision as the breeze continued to drop.  While the men were able to finish with Byron Kokkalanis leading the overall finals, the Race Committee abandoned the women’s second race half way through instead of shortening the course.

As the sailors attempted to get back to the beach in the fading light they were reduced to having to paddle back which is a first for me to see.

The current rumours are that tomorrow’s forecast is for 25 to 35 knots and I can assure everyone that after 3 days spent on the beach that the Race Committee, competitors and spectators alike are hoping that it is the case.

Day 7: The Calm Before The Storm Written by ISAF  It was a spectacular day of sailing on Lake Neusiedl:© ISAF World Sailing Games 2006, Lake Neusiedl, Austria, 17 May 2006

The second day of the final series at the ISAF World Sailing Games again began with near stillness over Lake Neusiedl. But today the wind came to Austria in abundance and all fleets played host to some fantastic racing, with the conditions really testing the sailors to their maximum.

It was a day which saw everything in Lake Neusiedl. After a quiet dawn to the day, racing started around the lake as scheduled at eleven, with the wind around 15 knots and already rising. It quickly built, thunderstorms and rain squalls came and went, the favourites flourished and floundered and the smiles were back on the faces of the organizers, as the World Sailing Games hit top gear today.

It was the usual suspects who took the lead in the first race of the day in the Men's RS:X gold fleet. Tom ASHLEY (NZL), Maxim OBEREMKO (UKR) and Julien BONTEMPS (FRA) were a cut above the rest of the fleet and exchanged the lead throughout the race. As they approached the finish OBEREMKO nearly missed the line, but realised just in time to stop ASHLEY sneaking through. Julien BONTEMPS (FRA) finished third with Nicholas HUGUET (FRA) taking fourth.

The second race started promptly and most of the fleet lined up at the pin end. Just seven sailors opted for the left of the course and at the first mark with threatening clouds building over Breitenbrum, there was no surprise that the fleet was soon hit by heavy rain and severe gusts of over 30 knots. OBEREMKO rounded first followed by Aron GADORFALVI (HUN), BONTEMPS and Makoto TOMIZAWA (JPN). It wasn't long before the wind took it's toll on the fleet and only eleven of the 25 starters finished the race. Julien BONTEMPS took the gun ahead of Ricardo SANTOS (BRA) and overnight leader Byron KOKKLANIS (GRE).
After four races, OBEREMKO tops the leaderboard and able to discard his DNF from race four, with BONTEMPS in second and ASHLEY in third.

Kiwi star ASHLEY may be in third overall but he was not happy with his day today. After a second in the first race he found himself down in the pack after hitting two fish, apparently a common problem for the windsurfers, shortly after the start. Showing his class, he worked his way back through the fleet only for the mast step to break, forcing him to retire. 'I am requesting redress,' he said

Vegard Johan EIMIND (NOR) who finished fourth in qualification but went into today in 23 overall commented, 'It was pretty good in the first regatta [seventh] but in the second one there was so much wind that I retired after I'd been swimming for ten minutes.' He was not too disappointed with the day and is looking forward to celebrating Norwegian national day and watching the Champions League final this evening!

MASLIVETS Does The Double
The women completed one race in the morning and two in the afternoon. In the first race, whilst most of the fleet lined up at the committee boat end, four sailors opted for a port tack start from the pin end. Weaving their way through the rest of the fleet they were off, all apart from 2005 Mistral World Champion and ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award nominee Blanca MANCHON (ESP) who was OCS - not a good start to her championship.

The fleet split across the course up to the first windward mark and as the race progressed became increasingly spread out. At the final mark it looked like the outcome was a sure thing but as the front three worked their way downwind to the finish the gaps closed. A sprint finish ensued between Lee KORSIZ (ISR) and yesterday's race winner Qiubin CHEN (CHN), with CHEN managing to edge her way across the line first after a tight tussle by the committee boat. Coming in behind these two was Olga MASLIVETS (UKR) in third, safely ahead of Jannicke STAALSTROM (NOR) in fourth. There is a significant difference between the front and the back of this women's fleet and it is little surprise that some of the big names from the Mistral class are making their presence felt here.

ISAF Youth Worlds Champion Blanca MANCHON (ESP) was not too disappointed with her OCS which she adds to a fourth from yesterday. Speaking about the equipment and the change to the RS:X from the Mistral she mentioned that it was easy to come to an event where the equipment was supplied because you don't have to bring so much with you. Pleased to have been invited and enjoying getting used to the RS:X she said, 'It is better for me because I am not so tired as the other girls, but they have the advantage that they have had some time to get used to the water, where the courses are and the equipment.'

Long Hard Day
The second race of the day for the women was postponed as strong winds ripped their way across the lake. Both fleets went ashore cold and tired with the men able to pack up and go home whilst the women waited for the wind to decrease before they could complete the rest of their races for the day.

The women's fleet and the silver fleet went back out on the water as the wind dropped and the sun came back out. The women completed their third and fourth races of the final series with many tired sailors on the race course. MASLIVETS, previously ranked at number one in the world in the Mistral, showed her class and the depth of her abilities in different conditions. After an eighth place yesterday she relished the strong winds and took the gun in both races to finish the day on top of the leaderboard. In second place was
Charline PICON (FRA) with Olympian in the 470 Nikola GIRKE (CAN) finishing third.

The race committee wasted no time in getting race four underway and in a decreasing wind MASLIVETS finished first ahead of MANCHON and PICON. MANCHON moves up to third overall with CHEN in second after finishing seventh and fifth this afternoon.

Day 9 “Only 4 hours today...." was reported by Australian windsurfer Anna Davis as she returned to shore early afternoon.  A steady Southerly breeze was predicted for today’s racing in strong contrast to yesterday, the Race Committee signalled for the Men’s and Women’s gold fleet to leave the beach on time however with the breeze under 6 knots the Race Committee postponed the two fleets.

The breeze slowly picked up to allow the Race Committee to get racing in with Tom Ashley (NZL) reporting a lucky break on the last downwind leg to take 3rd place after having spent most of the race towards the back due to an injury from yesterday’s racing.  The top 5 sailors in the men’s Gold fleet are still waiting to hear if the Jury will reopen the Hearing for a Request for Redress due to equipment problems and this may affect the overall standings for the division.

Ukraine sailor Olga Maslivets had an unlucky start to the day by being scored over the line early which has reduced her overall lead to second place behind China’s Qiu Bin Chen.  The young Spanish sailor Manchon Blanca has shown again at the World Sailing Games that she is a very consistent sailor to stay in third place overall.

There is only 1 day left of racing for the entire fleet and only the top 10 finishers will go into the Medal Race on Saturday to decide on who will take the World Sailing Games RS:X titles.

Final Day of Racing for Full RS:X Fleet The weather reports summed up the final day of racing for entire RS:X fleet, one forecast predicted 28 knots, another 15 knots while the final forecast predicated 1 to 2 knots they were all correct! 

The men’s and women’s gold fleet left the beach in promising conditions, planing to the start boat.  The first men’s race started in an average breeze of 12 to 15 knots with the majority of competitors starting on starboard tack.  Both Richard Stauffacher (SUI) and Riccardo Belli Dellisca (ITA) were scored OCS and the Race Committee advised them at the first top mark to ensure that they did not sail the whole course unnecessarily. 

French sailor Julien Bontemps again showed the rest of the fleet that he is in a class of his own to take the first race with a large lead.  Brazilian sailor Ricardo Santos took second place followed by Nimrod Mashiah (ISR) and Maksym Oberemko (UKR).

During the start sequence for the women’s fleet a gust of over 20 knots hit the fleet forcing the young Polish sailor Iga Peryna to drop her sail turning into a domino effect with 6 others dropping their sails within 1 minute to the start.  Israeli sailor Lee Korzits had a large lead on the fleet at the bottom mark but was unable to maintain this and finished in third place.  Ukraine sailor Olga Maslivets took first place followed by Chinese sailor Qiu Bin Chen.

The second start for the men was clean in 15 knots dropping off to 10 knots half way throiugh the race. Julien Bontemps again dominated the race to lead from start to finish with New Zealander Tom Ashley taking second and Nimrod Mashiah (ISR) his second 3rd place finish of the day.

In the women’s second race the breeze built to 28 knots during a rain squall, Israeli sailor Lee Korzits, a true heavy wind sailor, had a lead of over 1 minute on second place Olga Maslivets to ensure that she has a place in the Medal Race after not being able to compete in 2 races due to equipment problems.  Italian favourite Flavia Tartaglini took third palce followed by Greek sailor Antonia Frey.

With the both Gold fleets racing finished for the day the sailors returned to the shore to allow the men’s Silver fleet to race.  Unfortunately for them the final weather forecast came true with no breeze resulting in a delayed start until the breeze built enough for them to race.

This was the final day of racing for the entire fleet with only the top 10 in the men’s and women’s Gold Fleet going forward to the Medal Race to be held tomorrow, the competitors are as follows:

Men’s Medal Race
FRA Julien Bontemps (17 points) / UKR Maksym Oberemoko (25 points) / NZL Tom Ashley (25 points) / BRA Ricardo Santos (42 points) / FRA Huguet Nicolas (45 points) / FRA Samuel Launay (56 points) / GRE Byron Kokkalanis (59 points) / ISR Nimrod Mashiah (66 points) / ESP Ivan Pastor (68 points) GRE Ioannis Chrysochon (73 points).

Women’s Medal Race
CHN Qiu Bin Chen (18 points) / UKR Olga Maslivets (29 points) / ESP Blanca Manchon (42 points) / ITA Flavia Tartaglini (48 points) / FRA Charline Picon (48 points) / GRE Antonia Frey (48 points) / NOR Jannicke Staalstrom (53 points) / ISR Lee Korzits (55 points) / CHN Wei Ming Liu (55 points) / HKG Wai Man Chan (55 points).

The Race Committee, volunteers from the Yacht Club Breitenbrunn and Paula / Richard Kern who run the Kantine Restaurant have been outstanding hosts and have looked after the RS:X sailors and NeilPryde crew unbelievably, if ever you are in Austria it is definitely worthwhile a visit to this outstanding yacht club.

The Medal Race has been recently introduced by ISAF to help build up media coverage to increase awareness of sailing to the general public.  As it is a new introduction the logistics leave a little to be desired, the windsurfers on the last day were asked to move to a new venue across the bay but no in-depth thought on how to get the sailors and equipment there was given. 

The Race Headquarters had requested that the equipment be transported by RIBs, to move 24 sets of equipment this would have required at least 20 trips and substantial damage to the equipment.  The volunteers from YachtClub Breitenburnn came up trumps and organised a large ferry but by the time the equipment and sailors were loaded it was obvious that the start of the men’s medal race at 1300hrs was going to have to been postponed.

The sailors arrived at Podersdorf, unloaded the equipment and carried it to the beach.  No sooner had they put down the equipment when the Race Committee hoisted the D flag to signal that they had to go out onto the water for the start.  As the men’s fleet was not ready panic followed with sailors trying to get changed and find last minute equipment. 

The Race Committee waited until the 10 Medal Race competitors arrived and started them on a 2 lap windward / leeward course. The start was exciting with half the fleet starting on starboard while the other 5 started on port.  Most of the fleet stayed close to the shore on the upwind leg but Greek sailor Ioannis Chrysochon took a flier and went to the right of the course, unfortunately for him there was more breeze on the shore and he rounded the top mark far behind the rest of the fleet.  Fellow Greek sailor Bryon Kokkalanis rounded the first top mark in first place closely followed by French sailor Nicolas Huguet.  Throughout the men’s race it was close exciting racing with a very close finish between Bryon Kokkalanis and Ukraine sailor Masksym Oberemko, with Bryon taking the bullet.  Julien Bontemps who had been leading the Regatta had a disastrous medal race, allowing Masksym Oberemko to take the first ever RS:X World Sailing Games Championship title.

The women’s fleet started shortly after the completion of the men’s race with most of the sailors failing to get the 5 minute gun as they were near the shore and unable to hear the signal.  At the start, an individual recall was sounded and Ukraine sailor Olga Maslivets having been OCS a couple of times took no chances and restarted, however the individual recall flag remained up so there was tension amongst the coaches as to whose sailor was also at fault. 

Olga Maslivets took the right side of the course which had not paid in the men’s race, and rounded the top mark in first place closely followed by Isreali sailor Lee Korzits.  The positions did not change on the downwind leg but during the next upwind leg, Olga Maslivets, either hit a fish or some growth, had to stop and backup to remove it.  At this point Lee managed to take the lead to finish the race in first place.  Olga was second followed by Hong Kong sailor Wai Man Chan.  Italian sailor Flavia Tartaglini was the other sailor who was OCS and returned to the beach.  The Women’s title of RS:X ISAF World Sailing Games went to Chinese sailor Qiu Bin Chen winning by one point over Olga Maslivets.