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Sailing - 28. April 2008.

Medal races: mission accomplished in Hyeres

Despite a pessimistic forecast, the intense medal race programme was completed as scheduled. The wind, light and often shifty forced the committee to adjust constantly the course. Sailing proved difficult and tested the skills of the ten teams in each of the ten Olympic classes engaged in the event. The Sonar and 2.4 concluded the regatta with a final fleet race. Many champions and medallists will take place on the podium.


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Robertson, Stodel, Thomas (GBR)-photo Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR


The start of the Yngling, scheduled at the same time on the South area, was postponed with the wind shifting East. The Committees repositioned the racing areas to fit the new wind direction.


Match racing specialists, Barkow/Howe/Capozzi (USA) excelled in the Medal race with a good start and speed to win the race and climb on the second step of the podium. After only one year in the Yngling, Athens Gold medallist in the Europe class, Siren Sundby (NOR) has won her first Grade 1 event regatta in the Olympic keelboat with Lise Fredriksen and Alexandra Koefoed. The podium is completed with another Gold medal team. Current European and World champions, Sarah Ayton, Pippa Wilson and Sarah Webb (GBR) second place in the Medal race gives them Bronze, on equal points with the Americans.

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Ayton, Webb and Wilson/photo Richard Langdon/Skandia GBR



A victory in the 470 women Medal race gives the Germans Stefanie Rothweiler and Vivien Kussatz the Silver medal in the SOF. World #2, Japaneses Ai Kondo and Naoko Kamata, 6th across the line, conserve the lead and claim their first Grade 1 event title. The Japanese who have placed 2nd in the 2007 Olympic test event are among the top favourite in China. Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol (ITA) will have to settle for Bronze after a eigh th place in the Medal Race


No surprise in the Laser radial fleet where the top 4 remain unchanged after Chinese Lijia Xu’s victory in the Medal race. World #3, Sarah Blank (AUS) has kept the command of the Radial fleet all week and has proved her skills in the breeze as well as in lighter air.


2007 RS:X world champions in the womens division have taken the Gold in Hyères.


The top three remain unchanged in the Women division. Sofia Keplacka (POL) is continuing in her good form winning comfortably the regatta after her third place in Palma. At ease in the breeze as well as light conditions she will be a main threat for her opponents at the European Championship next month in Brest and the Olympic Games. Olga Maslivets (UKR) and Jannicke Stalstrom (NOR) are conserving their second position. Charline Picon (FRA) wins the second race and is placed fourth a point away from the podium.


The Sonar and 2.4 raced an ultimate race to complete the series.


Tao Wang, Huiagao Zfou and Weija Xu (CHN) won the last race in the Sonar and place fourth at only one point from third. Robertson, Stodel, Thomas (GBR) have won the regatta after collecting none less than eight victories

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