After a well deserved rest day, we are now into the end game here at the RS:X European Windsurfing Championships in Burgas, Bulgaria. The sea breeze was bound to be less than co-operative at some point and today was that day. Topping out an unenthusiastic 12 knots, conditions were generally marginal so only 2 races were completed.
42 men have been consigned to the silver fleet who are now last in the starting sequence so it was the RS:X European Championship Women's fleet who were called to the starting line first. It was Marina Alabau (ESP5) who came out fighting today after missing race day 2 due to illness. She may be out of medal contention but the two bullets she posted today were a clear demonstration of her current dominance in these conditions.
Sofia Klepacka (POL8) had a consistent day to score a 4th in race 7 and a 3rd in race 8 to establish an 18 point lead over second placed Lee Korsitz (ISR111) who hemorrhaged points posting a 13th and a 16th, as did Maja Dziarnowska (POL7) with a 16 and a 23.
It was Laura Linares (ITA11) who benefitted. She put in a 3rd and a 5th to climb to 3rd overall 3 points ahead of Maja and Blanca Manchon (ESP1) who are tied on points for 4th and 5th places.
Over in the RS:X European gold fleet, Piotr Myszka (POL82) has built a commanding lead of 10 points to retain the yellow jersey with Byron Kokkalanis (GRE8) in 2nd and Ivan Pastor (ESP7) 2 points back in third so the fight will probably be for silver and bronze with 5 sailors in contention.
Pierre Le Coq (FRA77) is 2 points back with Shahar Zubari (ISR11) and Andreas Cariolou (CYP1) tied on points for 5th and 6th another 2 points away.
With the forecast for tomorrow predicting the same conditions as today, the light wind specialists will now crowd the front of the fleets leaving the big guys working over time to limit the damage...
RS:X Youth European Media Links
RS:X YOUTH European Championships Microsite
http://realtimeonlineresul
RS:X European Media Links
RS:X Women's Results Overall
http://realtimeonlineresul
RS:X Men's Results Overall
http://realtimeonlineresul
RS:X Men's Results by Group
http://realtimeonlineresul
RS:X European Windsurfing Championships Microsite
http://realtimeonlineresul
