It may have been frightening to fresh for the sit down sailors
but conditions on day 3 with the wind gusting to 30 knots are what windsurfing's all about.
Nick Dempsey (GBR), Weymouth local and winner of the 2009 RS:X World Champion, who had what he discreetly called 'a hugely frustrating and disappointing day' on Tuesday came good. He creamed the RS:X men's fleet. Two bullets gives him top spot on the podium on countback.
Here's what he had to say...
“It’s been absolutely beautiful today – the sun’s shining, the wind’s blowing. We had two cracking races this morning and I got two first places so I’m very, very happy with that...
“It was much better after yesterday which was hugely frustrating and disappointing. I made some massive mistakes so it was really nice just to go out there and execute what I was hoping I could do yesterday.”
Nick is on his guard though and keeping a close eye on JP Tobin (NZL), 2-5, and the flying Dutchman Dorian van Rijsselberge, 1-4, who are his main rivals for the top podium spot this week in a breeze.
“JP from New Zealand is flying and so, as normal, is Dorian, so I’ve had some great races with both of them already this week. They’re the two that are going really quickly, so it’ll be a good race with them this week.
“Hopefully we’ll get some lighter winds and it will mix it up a little bit,” Nick continued. “If it’s just windy like this then it’s kind of just the three of us that go round together and the points are not going to be that big. Hopefully we’ll get some light winds, mix it up and maybe get some big scores for those boys but who knows. It’ll be nice to get a bit of everything.”
Over in the RS:X Women's fleet, Lee Korzits (ISR) was absolutley loving the breeze too. She finished 2nd and 1st and bounced from 4th to equal first. You have to look further down the order for the other two stand out performers of the day
Nikola Girke (CAN) came good with a #1 and #3 which, If I am not very much mistaken, is the first race win for the Vancouver resident in a 'big time' regatta. Well done to her...
Back in 11th is Li Ling (CHN) has had a 'slow' start to the regatta after her win in Holland 10 days ago. She put in a 2 and a 1 today but is still 8 points off a place in the top 10 and ultimately the medal race so ... More of the same please :)
It'll be the RS:X Men who take the start at 1100hrs on Thursday with the RS:X women's fleet scheduled to start at 1300hrs. The wind will have moderated yesterday's survival conditions will have eased to allow Marina Alabau (ESP), Blanca Manchon (ESP) and Charline Picon (FRA) to race rather than grit their teeth and hang in there.
Here's what the Rolex Wiorld Sailor of the Year and RS:X World Champion, Blanca Manchon (ESP), had to say ...
"It was really windy in the first race today, almost 30 knots, and for me it wasn’t very good. I had a bad second lap and lost a lot of places so that was disappointing but the last race was better. There was less wind and I finished fourth so I am happy with that. Tomorrow the fleets get divided into gold and silver and of course it is going to be difficult racing – we will just have to wait and see!"
"This is a really competitive fleet and there are about five girls who are really good and are all able to win here. The Israeli girl (Lee Korzits) is great in the strong winds, so if the conditions continue like this she would be really tough to beat."
The points are so tight that the front of both fleets is like an argument in a telephone box. Stay tuned for more exciting stuff by checking the RS:X Facebook page which is being updated throughout the day. In the meantime, click her for results
RS:X Women's Windsurfing
1. Lee KORZITS 9.0
2. Marina ALABAU 12.0
3. Zofia KLEPACKA 15.0
RS:X Men's Windsurfing
1. Nick DEMPSEY (GBR) 11.0
2. JP TOBIN (NZL) 11.0
3. Dorian VAN RIJSSELBERGE (NED) 12.0
