Day Two of Skandia Sail for Gold and the breeze came in big time making for a tough day on the water. These are the hard yards where you can make or break your regatta and pile on self inflicted pressure by not having your eye on the ball. This is where all that fitness training starts to pay dividends.
The RS:X Women’s Fleet had a fantastic day’s racing in winds up to 20 knots. It belonged to Lee Korzits (ISR) who piled on the pressure by taking 2 bullets and climbing to 4th overall. It's the cat and mouse game just behind her that could prove fascinating
Marina Alabau (ESP) and Blanca Manchon (ESP), the RS:X World Champion and ISAF Rolex Sailor of The Year, are locked in mortal combat for the one and only slot to represent their country in the 2012 Olympic Regatta. Marina had the best of it on day 2 posting a pair of second places which bumped her up to the overall lead.
Meanwhile Blanca had an up and down kind of day with a 3rd and an 8th to give her second place just 5 points behind her rival and 2 in front of Charline Picon (FRA) who is in the process of crushing the aspirations of her rivals to represent one of the most powerful sailing nations on the planet
Over in the RS:X men's fleet, JP Tobin (NZL) came good yesterday and how. Banging in two wins in the yellow group to get a grip on the overall lead with his training partner Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) dominating the blue to take over in 3rd.
Splitting the pair is Taehoon Lee (KOR) who finished just behind JP in both races and now sits in 2nd place overall. Taehoon won in Medemblik at the Delta Lloyd Regatta 10 days ago so is in form and may well prove a threat when it comes down to the last few days.
When the discard is taken on day 3, it will certainly be tight at the top with just a few points covering the top 5 in both the RS:X Men's and Women's fleets... Game on
RS:X Men's Windsurfing - Sailed: 4
1. J. P. Tobin, NZL, 10
2. Taehoon Lee, KOR, 13
3. Dorian Vaan Rijsselberge, NED, 14
RS:X Women's Windsurfing - Sailed: 4
1. Marina Albau, ESP, 8
2. Blanca Manchon, ESP, 13
3. Charline Picon, FRA, 15
Racing continues at Skandia Sail for Gold until Saturday.
