Day 10 in Enoshima, and after no racing on Monday the pay-off is we get to witness four Medal Races in quick succession. The wind looks better – moderate breeze from the south. In three of the four Medal Races, the defending Olympic Champions from Rio 2016 are very much in the running to repeat their gold medal performances. The only fleet where we will definitely see new Olympic Champions is the Nacra 17 catamaran. Here’s the running order for the Medal Races:
1230 JST – Women’s Skiff
1330 JST – Men’s Skiff
1430 JST – Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavyweight
1530 JST – Mixed Multihull
Conclusion of the Opening Series for:
1200 JST – 470 Women, 2 races
1210 JST – 470 Men, 2 races
49erFX Women Medal Race
Going into the 49erFX Medal Race two high-class teams share the top spot on equal points – the double World Champions Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz (NED) who will wear the yellow bibs, and Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) looking to defend their Olympic title from five years ago. Only three points off the lead are Tina Lutz and Susann Beucke (GER) who promise to race aggressively for the gold, while just back from them are the reigning World Champions from Spain, Tamara Echegoyen and Paula Barcelo.
49er Men Medal Race
By their standards, the yellow bib was a long time coming for Pete Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL), the most feted sailors of their generation. Unlike Rio 2016 where the Kiwis locked up the gold with a race to spare, the defending Olympic Champions are only four points ahead of two teams hungry for the podium – Dylan Fletcher and Stu Bithell (GBR) alongside Diego Botin and Iago Lopez Marra (ESP). Also sharing equal points but 10 points back from bronze are the German and Danish teams who will be looking to spoil the podium party this afternoon. The 2008 49er Olympic Champion from Denmark, Jonas Warrer, knows all about how Medal Races going topsy turvy. Expect the unexpected.
Finn Men
Giles Scott has a nine-point lead to take into the Medal Race ahead of Zsombor Berecz (HUN), who’s just two points in front of Joan Cardona (ESP). Josh Junior (NZL) had a slow start to the competition but won the final qualifying race which puts him fourth, eight points out of the medals so still in with a shot of getting on the podium. Unusually when sailors like to play their game plan close to their chest, Scott was prepared to reveal his: “I’m going to try and start behind the line and I’ll try to sail faster than the others over a shorter distance.”
Nacra 17 Mixed
Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti (ITA) won’t fly out of Tokyo with less than a silver medal. The only team that can take the gold away from Italy are John Gimson and Anna Burnet (GBR), although they’re 12 points behind. The danger for the British in this scenario is whether the Italians will choose to match race their only threat, which could jeopardise the British team’s hold on silver. At least they know they have a medal of some colour. Ready to pounce on any duelling between the front two are Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer (GER), although the Germans must keep an eye on the Australian cousins with Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (AUS) in fourth place.
470 Women
Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre (GBR) hold the overall lead in the 470 Women, but only a point in front of Agnieszka Skrzypulec and Jolanta Ogar (POL). Nine points further back is Camille Lecointre and Aloise Retornaz (FRA). Best of the rest are Linda Fahrni and Maja Siegenthaler (SUI), although the Swiss are currently 17 points away from the podium with just two qualifying races to make up the gap.
470 Men
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) hold a 19-point advantage over second placed Spaniards Jordi Xammar and Nico Rodriguez, who are recovering well from a slow start to the regatta. Looking to make manoeuvres against the Spanish are Sweden and Great Britain who are tied for third, just four points behind second.
Weather
- Mostly fine, occasionally cloudy, with chance of shower
- No chance of thunderstorm
- Gradient winds S 10-15kt
- Race Area surface wind S-SSE 6-9kt, S 9-11kt from 11LT, S-SSW 8-9kt from 14LT, S-SSE 9-12kt from 16LT.
- Sea state: 1.0-1.5m wave height
Schedule
Medal Races
Enoshima Course
1230 JST – Women’s Skiff
1330 JST – Men’s Skiff
1430 JST – Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavyweight
1530 JST – Mixed Multihull
Opening Series
Zushi Course
1200 JST 470 Women, 2 races
1210 JST 470 Men, 2 races
To follow the racing on tracker, click here.
To find out more about international broadcasters of the Sailing, click here.
For more detail from the Weather Forecast, click here.
Words by Andy Rice – World Sailing
Photography by Sailing Energy / World Sailing
