Poland's Zofia Klepacka has moved into pole position in the Women's RS:X after finishing second in Race 7 and winning Race 8 at the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta, the Olympic Test Event.
The Polish RS:X sailor led Race 7 from the start and had opened up a seven point lead as she headed into the second windward mark. But she went for a swim shortly after the mark rounding allowing Canada's Nikola Girke to move past and open up a ten second lead. Klepacka fought back hard to reduce the deficit to four seconds but she ran out of time as Girke took her first bullet of the regatta.
Girke said, "I got a good start with clear lanes. I just gained steadily on the girls in front. When I was second the Polish girl [Klepacka] got caught on the mark and fell, so I got past and stayed there."
Another strong wind day at the Olympic sailing test event in Weymouth and Portland on Monday (8 August) proved a tough test, with Skandia Team GBR's contenders maintaining a strong showing in the breezy conditions.
A second day of 22-knot and gusty conditions greeted Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour. While the 470s, Lasers and Radials enjoyed some respite from the breeze on their layday, the Finns, 49ers, Stars and RS:X windsurfers saw the thick of the action, while Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor embarked on their 5-8th place play-offs in the women's match racing later in the day.
Bryony Shaw remains in overall fourth in the RS:X women's event after a testing day. She found herself suffering from a speed deficit on port tack and kit breakage but came away from the day with 8,9 to keep her in touch of the podium spots and still feeling positive.
"It was tough out there for me today," the 28-year-old admitted.
"I managed to think about how I was sailing through the day and tomorrow we'll learn from all those things, capitalize on the strengths I clearly do have, and try and get that port speed back up there and hopefully be right back up there in the top three.
"Whatever conditions come about tomorrow, I'll be confident that I can race well and I've got the tools to do. I've just got to keep my head up and hopefully it will all come together."
Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor are poised at 1-0 up in their 7-8th place play-off with Anna Kjellberg's Swedish team, having missed out on the 5-6th spots at the hands of Olivia Price (AUS).
Tuesday (9 August) will see a rest day for the Finn, Star and 49er fleets, with the 470 men and women, and the Laser Radial classes returning to action.
