Bryony Shaw (GBR) converted her outstanding week of racing into ISAF Sailing World Cup Final gold on the final day of racing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The British racer has been flawless throughout the series and took a 16 point lead into the Medal Race. The Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist put in an assured, astute performance coming through in second to claim the honours.

“I am really pleased that I’ve had such a convincing win here,” said Shaw with a beaming smile. “It’s been a tough year in that I keep missing out on the podiums. I managed to win in Miami back in the beginning of the year. This being the end of the year it’s nice to be back on top of the podium and I hope I can take that momentum into next year.”

Charline Picon (FRA) had an outside chance of taking gold but knew she would have to force Shaw towards the back of the back and take a win. The pair went head to head as Shaw explained, “There was some really shifty and puffy wind on the first beat and I was keeping my eye on the French girl and I matched her every move which was quite fun. The two of us managed to get the best pressure up the first beat and rounded in first and fourth. I was leading the race and then one of the Chinese girls was sailing a good race and overtook me. I then maintained second all the way round and kept the French girl behind me.

“I just went in with a clear strategy and had an eye on my main rival.”

Picon fought hard to catch Shaw but also had to keep an eye on Blanca Manchon (ESP) who was in third and within touching distance. “I had a good battle with Bryony but I had to keep in front of Blanca to keep silver,” said Picon. “I did a good job by doing that at the start and then I attacked Bryony. But she raced well finishing second with me third so she took gold and I took silver.”

The French racer claimed her first world title a few months ago and came into Abu Dhabi with a reduced training schedule. With minimal time on the water she was buoyed by her performance, “Since the Worlds I only had six days of training. Coming here to discover a new country I did some good work at the start but I didn’t race well so silver is okay.”

Manchon completed the podium whilst the Medal Race victory went the way of Manjia Zheng (CHN) who finishes fourth.

Top 10 RS:X WOMEN
1. Bryony Shaw (GBR) – 23 pts.
2. Charline Picon (FRA) – 41 pts.
3. Blanca Manchon (ESP) – 58 pts.
4. Manjia Zheng (CHN) – 62 pts.
5. Hei Man Hayley Victoria Chan (HKG) – 65 pts.
6. Zofia Noceti-Klepacka (POL) – 69 pts.
7. Qiaoshan Weng (CHN) – 80 pts.
8. Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) – 83 pts.
9. Laura Linares (ITA) – 88 pts.
10. Jiahui Wu (CHN) – 89 pts.
Full results …

Louis Giard (FRA) took a single point lead over Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) into the Men’s RS:X Medal Race and did exactly what was needed to claim gold by taking the race victory.

The young Frenchman has excelled in Abu Dhabi and knew he had to beat Kokkalanis across the line to take the honours. He covered Kokkalanis at the start to edge in front and as the race played out he was able to extend. He made it look seamless with a relaxed approach and said, “Maybe that’s the secret. The first day I was like this and it worked very well. Yesterday was difficult for me; I had the yellow jersey so I had some extra pressure on my shoulders. I relaxed today and knew in these conditions I could do something great.

“I am super happy. It’s my first win in the senior fleet so it was a really good day for me. Some of them have some Olympic medals so I tried to have fun and sail well without pressure and enjoy the fact that I am racing in Abu Dhabi. It is a great place and the organisation was perfect. It was a pleasure.”

Kokkalanis came through in third which was enough for silver and he heaped praise on his young competitor after racing, “What can I say? He was really good in this competition. He had one bad day yesterday but today he was really solid. He had a good start and he just had to cover me. That is exactly what he did. He sailed correctly and followed the gusts and he really deserves his gold medal. He was surprisingly good in this competition.

“I feel satisfied to finish the season with one more medal. Having a medal here is really important and I feel happy about it.”

Nick Dempsey sailed astutely to pick up a fifth which gave him bronze.

Top 10 RS:X MEN
1. Louis Giard (FRA) – 28 pts.
2. Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) – 33 pts.
3. Nick Dempsey (GBR) – 46 pts. 
4. Aichen Wang (CHN) – 55 pts.
5. Piotr Muszka (POL) – 57 pts.
6. Pawel Tarnowski (POL) – 58 pts.
7. Julien Bontemps (FRA) – 71 pts.
8. Pierre le Coq (FRA) – 74 pts.
9. Toni Wilhelm (GER) – 75 pts.
10. Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL) – 94 pts.
Full results …

Live Tracking
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking.
Click here to view live tracking.

Race Highlights
Day 1 – Part 1
Day 1 – Part 2
Medal Race – RS:X Women
Medal Race – RS:X Men (and Finn)

Text & Photos by ISAF/RS:X

France’s Louis Giard put in a fearless display in the Men’s RS:X on the second day of racing at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The Frenchman is one of the youngest competitors in the experienced pack of elite athletes and picked up three race victories to take the lead on another glamorous day in Abu Dhabi.

“It was perfect for me,” beamed Giard ashore after racing, “I scored three bullets so it was a really good day. I made good choices. Sometimes everything goes perfectly and that was certainly the case today, it was perfect. The conditions were great, sunny, a bit of wind and I’m really enjoying this week. Tomorrow I will try to keep up with the same spirit.“

With an abundance of Olympians within the fleet the youngster certainly isn’t daunted when going up against the best of the best. Blasting his way around the race track to take three excellent victories he is showing no sign of lacking big race knowledge, “It’s sometimes a bit inconvenient when you have less experience but sometimes you just have ‘young power’ and you’re fearless.

“You feel like you have more power and it’s just about enjoying it and not allowing any extra pressure.”

The young gun has a nine point lead over ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao gold medallist Byron Kokkalanis (GRE). Overnight leader Pawel Tarnowski (POL) was up and down on the race track, taking a 6-11-6 scoreline and drops to third overall.

Top 5 RS:X MEN after the second racing day
1. Louis Giard (FRA) – 7 pts.
2. Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) – 16 pts.
3. Pawel Tarnowski (POL) – 17 pts.
4. Aichen Wang (CHN) – 25 pts.
5. Nick Dempsey (GBR) – 28 pts.
Full results …

It was another great day for Bryony Shaw (GBR) as she added two more race victories to the three she worked hard for on the opening day.

The British racer has been revelling in Abu Dhabi, enjoying the conditions and the culture, and has duly been rewarded by dominating the 18-boat fleet.

Shaw started the day with a 12th place finish, which she discards but she found rhythm in Race 5. Shaw took an early lead and rounded the first mark well ahead of the chasing pack. Hei Man Chen (HKG) looked to catch up with Shaw, progressing up from ninth to second. Unfortunately for the Hong Kong racer it was little too late as she ended up 20 seconds shy of Shaw at the finish.

The Bryony then fended off charges from Charline Picon (FRA) and Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) in the final race of the day but held strong to take her fifth race win of the regatta and with it, a healthy lead.

Shaw tops the pile on five points with Picon trailing on 21 in second. Italy’s Laura Linares is third on 28 points.

Top 5 RS:X WOMEN after the second racing day
1. Bryony Shaw (GBR) – 5 pts.
2. Charline Picon (FRA) – 21 pts. Qiaoshan Weng (CHN) – 5 pts.
3. Laura Linares (ITA) – 28 pts.
4. Blanca Manchon (ESP) – 29 pts.
5. Hei Man Hayley Victoria Chan (HKG) – 31 pts.
Full results …

Racing in the RS:X resumes at 12:00 local time on Saturday 29 November.

Live Tracking
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking.
Click here to view live tracking.

Race Highlights
Day 1 – Part 1
Day 1 – Part 2

Text & Photos by ISAF/RS:X

Great Britain’s Bryony Shaw stole the show in the Women’s RS:X taking three consecutive race victories to hold a steady lead over her rivals at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The British racer, who won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, was in exceptional form, mastering the conditions and ruling the waves on one of the outside course areas.

“We were out on Course C today so we had quite a bit of swell and waves,” said Shaw. “The wind was between 10 and 13 knots and I was pleased to be sailing fast.“

Shaw proved to be a class above the rest as she read the conditions perfectly to lead at the first mark in all of the races as she explained, “I got a good start in the first race but not such a good start in the second race. The wind had just started flicking to the right so I made a gain from going to the right in that race. The first two races I rounded first and was able to extend my lead.

“In the last race we had lighter winds. I had a great start by the committee boat and really good height and speed and managed to round first again. It was quite a physical race that one. I kept it quite simple and stayed between my competitors and the mark and managed to win that third race. It was a really good day.“

With 270 sailors from 38 nations competing in Abu Dhabi, the British sailor is just one of many competitors who are revelling in the Emirati capital. With a blend of old traditions in a modern metropolis there is plenty for the sailors to learn and enjoy, both on and off the water, “I’ve tried to immerse myself in the culture and we’ve been going out for dinners and the people here seem really friendly,” added Shaw.

“The conditions today were fantastic. To be sailing out there in board shorts and for it to be warm, sunny and to be sailing in planing conditions is the best for windsurfing. I’ve had a great time here so far. It’s been a short regatta for them to try and set up but it’s going well.“

China’s Qiaoshan Weng is second overall following a third, second and a discarded 14th. Charline Picon (FRA), 2014 Women’s RS:X World Champion, is third overall after an up and down day that included a second, a fourth and a discarded 14th place finish.

Top 5 RS:X WOMEN after the first racing day
1. Bryony Shaw (GBR) – 2 pts.
2. Qiaoshan Weng (CHN) – 5 pts.
3. Charline Picon (FRA) – 6 pts.
4. Blanca Manchon (ESP) – 8 pts.
5. Kamila Smektala (POL) – 10 pts.
Full results …

Youngsters Pawel Tarnowski (POL) and Louis Giard (FRA) are showing their experienced counterparts how to race in Abu Dhabi as they top the bill in the Men’s RS:X fleet.

Tarnowski, 20-years-old, stormed into the lead following an exceptional day on the water. He amassed two race wins and a third and holds a two point advantage over Giard, 21-years-old, who took a pair of seconds and a third.

The youngsters lead their more experienced rivals but only time will tell if they are able to continue it through for a podium finish on Sunday 30 November.

Top 5 RS:X MEN after the first racing day
1. Pawel Tarnowski (POL) – 2 pts.
2. Louis Giard (FRA) – 4 pts.
3. Piotr Muszka (POL) – 6 pts.
4. Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) – 7 pts.
5. Toni Wilhelm (GER) – 8 pts.
Full results …

RS:X racing resumes on 28 November in the Emirati capital from 12:00 local time.

Live Tracking
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking.
Click here to view live tracking.

Race Highlights
Day 1 – Part 1
Day 1 – Part 2

Text & Photos by ISAF/RS:X

From November 21st  to 30th, the capital of the UAE will host two major events: the Grand Prix “Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula 1” is in program from 21 to 23 November, and the Grand Final of ISAF Sailing World Cup in 2014, with all ten Olympic sailing classes with an open kiteboarding event joining the fray around Lulu Island off the UAE capital’s stunning Corniche, from 27 to 30 November.

Just 20 boats in each event the competition is set to be fierce. The Olympic events will contest an opening series and a Medal Race with the kiteboard fleet using a short track format. Prize money will be awarded to the top three overall finishers in each of the Olympic events from a total prize purse of US$200,000.

The F1 event, hosted for the sixth time in a row at the “Yas Marina Circuit”, this year has many important innovations.

Besides to being the last race of the season will be awarded for this event for the first time in the history of the world of F1, the double points counting towards the drivers’ standings.

Furthermore, the capacity of the futuristic plant has been increased by an additional 5,000 units, for a total of 65,000 places available.

The world in 2014 is, in fact, still in the balance with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg (the two pilots of the “Silver Arrows” Mercedes) separated by only 17 points to the advantage of the first and is extremely likely to be just the latest of curves “Yas Marina Circuit “to decree the winner.

The full program of events out of the race track and sailing, including concerts of world music at the magnificent “Du Arena” near the “Ferrari World”, Abu Dhabi will showcase the glamor of the moment making this the end of November ‘social and sports highlight of the year.

Event website: http://adsyc.ae/swcfinal/en/index.php

Treiler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN7IoyK5pjo

From 1-8 November 2014 more than 500 delegates from over 70 nations gathered in Palma to discuss, debate and decide on the decisions that will take the sport forward into 2015 and beyond.

ISAF Council, the final decision making body of ISAF, met on 7 and 8 November to vote on the recommendations for the expert committees. The 2014 Annual General Meeting brought the Conference to a close.

Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition

It was also decided that all supplied equipment at the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition should be distributed after a public draw, ensuring transparency.

As part of the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition Qualification System, ISAF included Continental Qualification Events in the pathway to help develop sailing around the world. Reflecting the IOC Qualification System Principles the key requirements are to ensure participation of the best athletes and ensure universality through continental representation.

ISAF Council agreed on the recommendation from the Events Committee on the RS:X regattas that will be held in 2015 and 2016.

African qualification event will be held at the 2016 in Algeria together with the Laser Standard and Laser Radial. The dates are coming soon.
Asian qualification event – the 2015-2016 ASAF Cup in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The dates are coming soon.
European qualification event – the 2016 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta, to be held on March.
Oceanic qualification event – the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne, to be held on December.
North & South American qualification event – the 2016 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, to be held on January.

ISAF Youth Worlds

Corpus Christi, Texas, USA will host the 2018 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual agreements.

The following events and equipment for the 2017 ISAF Youth Worlds were also agreed by Council:

Boy’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Girl’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Boy’s Two Person Dinghy – 420
Girl’s Two Person Dinghy – 420
Boy’s Windsurfer – RS:X with 8.5 sail
Girl’s Windsurfer – RS:X with 8.5 sail
Open multihull – Sirena SL16
Boy’s Skiff – 29er
Girl’s Skiff – 29er

The Equipment Committee recommended the new Nacra15 for the Open Multihull event and this will be discussed at the 2015 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in the Netherlands with the earliest possible introduction of the new equipment being 2018.

Other Business

Submission 127-14 as amended by the Racing Rules Committee was approved effective 1 January 2015. Other amendments to the Racing Rules and Equipment Rules of Sailing were approved following recommendations from the expert committees. The changes will be incorporated into the next edition of the rule books published for 2017-2020.

The Equipment Committee, Events Committee and Executive Committee will meet at the 2015 Mid-Year Meeting in Muiden, Netherlands from 7-9 May 2015 with the 2015 ISAF Annual Conference to be held in Sanya, China from 7-14 November 2015.

Full details of all the decisions made at the ISAF Annual Conference will be published in the minutes of the meetings for the ISAF Council and all ISAF Committees, which will be published on the ISAF Meetings microsite at www.sailing.org/meetings in the coming weeks.

Text and photos by ISAF