Bryony Shaw was the stand out performer for Skandia Team GBR on the penultimate day of the ISAF Sailing World Cup event in Hyeres, France, on Thursday, as Britain secured 11 boats into Friday’s final races.
The Olympic bronze medallist Shaw took advantage of the improved wind conditions to extend her lead at the top of the RS:X women’s fleet to 18 points, meaning barring major upset, she can be confident of gold heading into the final day.
The 27-year-old secured another race win and a second from Thursday’s two races to pull ahead of nearest rival and Spanish training partner Blanca Manchon.
“It’s been a really demanding week – physically and mentally – not just on the water with the light winds we’ve had, but the delays are pretty draining as well,” Shaw explained.
“It’s great to be in such a strong position going into the medal race. I knew that I was strong in the light winds so that’s been a bonus, but it’s also encouraging to know that the work that Dom and I have been doing on technique has really paid off and we’ve seen the benefits of that this week.
She continued: “The medal race is all about putting on a good show for the media and spectators, so I’ll go out with the hope of winning it tomorrow.
Charlotte Dobson made huge gains in the Laser Radial fleet on Thursday, with 3,14,10 boosting her into fourth place overall and just a point off of the medal places.
There was disappointment for Skandia Team GBR’s women’s match racers Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Ally Martin, who lost in the quarter-finals to Silke Hahlbrock’s German team
Hannah Mills and Claire Cumming just missed out in the 470 women’s event, finishing in 11th place, while Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark finished their first regatta proper in 14th.
A disqualification from race five of the 2.4mR Paralympic class for Helena Lucas saw her drop to fifth place overall, while teammate Megan Pascoe is in fourth, with the Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas in eighth place.
Racing at the French Olympic Sailing Week will conclude on Friday 30 April.
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