Marina Alabau (ESP5) has built what must be an unassailable 5 point cushion over Zofia Klepacka (POL8) and Blanca Manchon (ESP1). These three are assured of places on the podium!
Behind them, Pauline Perrin (FRA81) is 13 points adrift with Laura Linares (ITA11) one behind. Pauline has just taken over as France’s number one woman racer after the retirement of Faustine Merret who is now coaching their Youth Squad.
Laura is competing in her first regatta after graduating from the Youth Fleets. This 5 times Youth World Champion has made an immediate impact on the RS:X Women’s fleet. She still has to come to grips with the likes of Zofia Klepacka (POL8) who was also an outstanding Youth Champion but it now seems that the front of the Women’s fleet is being refreshed.
We may yet see the greats put in an appearance in the European ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas. I am thinking here of ISAF World Sailor of the Year, Alessandra Sensini (ITA), IOC Athlete’s Commission Member, Barbara Kendall (NZL) and 4 time Olympian, Jessica Crisp (AUS) who are all still very hard to beat on their day but, the new kids on the block are in the top 5 here in Miami.
