Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S600 LEADERBOARD

Laser & Radial Europeans & Worlds at Dun Laoghaire - Day 4

by Rachel Solon, Irish Sailing Association 4 Sep 2013 20:03 UTC 1-6 September 2013

Annalise Murphy wins two more races

Strong winds and big waves meant tired bodies and minds at the first day of racing for the Final Series at the Laser European and World Championships on Dublin Bay. Experience gained over years in the Laser proved as valuable as physical strength and stamina as Brazil's five times Olympic medallist Robert Scheidt climbed into the overall lead of the Laser European Trophy regatta.

Local favourite Annalise Murphy continues to delight her army of supporters, sailing on her own home waters, as she reeled off another two race wins to lead the women's Olympic Laser Radial class by a comprehensive 15 points. Murphy may have been very much revelling in the tough conditions in which she has always excelled but she admits she still found it hard going. "It was really windy, the windiest I have been out in for a while." Murphy recalled, "The downwinds were a bit scary and I was in safety mode at times."

Murphy maintained her perfect score line, now counting seven wins from the eight starts so far and discards a second place. British Sailing Team's Alison Young, who finished in fifth at the 2012 Olympic regatta – one place behind the Dublin helm – is now up to second place, whilst the Netherlands Olympic silver medallist Marit Bouwmeester lies third.

"Annalise is having a storming regatta. Fair play to her. She is going well and we need to figure out how to catch her. We need to hike harder!" smiled Young.

"I had a bad start in the first race" Murphy reported, "I was just slow to get off the start line and took a bit of a risk but it came good and got round the windward mark first and so was a bit lucky but I was pleased with that race. The second race I rounded the top mark second and was first on the first downwind. The other girls overlayed the first lay line on the second upwind and so they sailed a bit more distance, so I did pull out a good bit."

"Every day has been going well so far. It felt much the same today. I am just trying to focus on sailing well and not making too many mistakes. I had a bit of luck in the first race getting that wind shift and I am not complaining about that too much. That is the way in sailing, sometimes it just goes your way and you are grateful for it."

Although Scheidt leads the overall European Trophy regatta now by ten points after a 23rd (discarded) and a third place today, it is the Netherlands Ruttger van Schaardeburg who leads the European Championship. But the Laser legend Scheidt admitted that even with five Olympic medals, races in which everything seems to stack against him come along.

"I did struggle a bit in the first race. I had a bad first beat, over stood the layline. Then I had a bad first run. The second beat I went right, the wind shifted left, and so I did everything wrong" Scheidt recalled, "I regrouped, made a good start, rounded the top mark second finished third and so that was a good race. Everything is mixed now in the finals. It was really windy, demanding because there were so many waves. The problem is we have sailed in strong winds but not so many waves. It took me a while to get used to these conditions again. You can see that some guys are really ready for these conditions, the Swedish, Estonian and Russian. My goal is not so much strong winds, it is more for medium winds. I think I am sailing well in medium winds but when it is blowing 25kts I still have to improve."

In the European Championship Van Schaardenburg leads only on countback, sharing the same 27 points tally as Britain's Nick Thompson and Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic. Thompson, twice runner up in the Laser World Championships, was the most consistent, lowest scoring sailor in the Laser standards today with his third and second.

Thompson said "It was hard but the thing I always remember is that everyone else is finding it hard. I did find a second wind for the second race which I put down to doing a lot of physical training though last winter and I think that pays off now. I was ill at the start of the season and the first few events were a real challenge but it pays off now. I think the experience in the boat pays a bit today because you are able to focus on the tactics when you are in a lot of pain. Key today was starting and nailing the first shift. I made a reasonable job of it. Now I feel like I am only about half way through the event."

Sweden's Jesper Stalheim had lead overall after the first Finals race today but capsized twice in the following race, finishing 13th.

And in the Laser Men's Radial World and European Championships Australia's Tristan Brown also holds on to his superlative form, extending his overall lead in the world title chase, although Ireland's Finn Lynch – who won silver on these waters at the ISAF Youth World Championships last year – now leads the Europeans.

Results after Day 4:

PosCountrySail NoHelmQ1Q2Q3Q4Q5Q6F1F2Pts
Laser Radial Women’s European Championship
1stIreland199417Murphy Annalise11‑2111117
2ndUK202411Young Alison33‑73515222
3rdHolland204276Bouwmeester Marit43‑132354324
4thDenmark204750Gunni Sarah265116‑18526
5thFinland202669Tenkanen Heidi11‑1021093430
Laser Radial Men's World Championship
1stAustralia202854Brown Tristan12I+84111‑4222
2ndIreland203714Lynch Finn5139‑1015125
3rdSpain196937Cabrera Gonzalez Juan Kevin361333‑9625
4thIreland191304Lyden Fionn2142120‑23232
5thPoland195310Rudawski Marcin11373242‑4332
Laser Standard Men’s European Championship
1stBrazil176622Scheidt Robert432122‑23317
2ndHolland204567Schaardenburg Rutger11452(DNF)5927
3rdCroatia204731Stipanovic Tonci341‑8318727
4thUK201402Thompson Nick54‑82743227
5thSweden204666Stålheim Jesper11411(DSQ)111332

Related Articles

ILCA Midland Series Open at Shustoke
The forecast breeze dies away before the start On Sunday 13th April Shustoke Sailing Club hosted its 2025 ILCA Open, part of the Midland Open Series, as best witnessed from the tail end of the fleet. A good breeze was forecast with some gentle gusts. Posted today at 5:18 am
An example of sustainable tourism
At the 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels The Mallorcan Olympic classes regatta mustered more than 1,000 sailors from 54 countries base line numbers which reflect a good increase in hotel occupancy in low season, attracting a more conscious and respectful visitor profile. Posted on 15 Apr
One week to Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères
More than 800 athletes are expected ifor this unmissable event With one week to go until the 56th edition of the Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères - Toulon Provence Méditerranée (France's famous Olympic sailing week) the intense level of competition is becoming clearer. Posted on 11 Apr
Mini Globe Race, Princesa Sofía Mallorca news
McIntyre Mini Globe Race news, Princesa Sofía report, Charleston Race Week As global financial markets melt faster than spring snowpack in the American West, I find myself daydreaming more and more of simply setting sail. Posted on 8 Apr
Ullswater Yacht Club 2025 Preview
The calendar kicks off with the Magic Marine Daffodil Regatta Ullswater Yacht Club is delighted to announce both its open event calendar and Magic Marine's continued sponsorship and support for 2025. Posted on 8 Apr
Three American teams qualify for Medal Races
At Trofeo Princesa Sofía, first Sailing Grand Slam After six days of racing on the Bay of Palma at the 54th Trofeo Princesa Sofía, three American teams finished the opening series in the top 10, qualifying for prestigious medal races at the largest Olympic classes regatta of the year. Posted on 8 Apr
Dan Lenard aiming to break Guiness World Record
For the longest unassisted solo non-stop sailing in a dinghy Dan Lenard is preparing for his second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest unassisted solo non-stop sailing in a dinghy. Posted on 7 Apr
Wilson wins Princess Sofia Trophy
As Brits dominate in Palma Sailors Emma Wilson and Micky Beckett spearheaded a massive nine-medal haul - the best in the event's history - at the LA 2028 cycle curtain raiser. Posted on 7 Apr
Northern ILCA Grand Prix at Delph
Glorious sunshine with a strong gusty wind to welcome the 24 competitors Delph SC hosted the first event of the Northern ILCA Grand Prix circuit on Saturday 5th April. The event was bathed in glorious sunshine, with a strong gusty wind to welcome the 24 competitors. Posted on 6 Apr
Emma Wilson crowned outright champion
Overall winner of the 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca Winner of the Women's iQFOiL windsurfing competition, Great Britain's Emma Wilson has been crowned outright champion of 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels. Posted on 6 Apr
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER