Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion Paige RAILEY (USA) raced to two bullets and an early lead on the opening day of the ISAF Grade C1 Laser Radial European Championship in Split, Croatia.
After two races of the eight race qualifying series,
RAILEY looks to be on her best form and leads the 82 strong fleet overnight. Europe ace Sari
MULTALA (FIN) follows in second place as the top European, after a second place and a bullet. Poland's Katarzyna
SZOTYNSKA rounds up the top three and is the day's other race winner. Last year's World Champion Krystal
WEIR (AUS) had an unspectacular day and lies 28th after finishes of 14 and 15.
Despite appearing on the entry list it looks as if winner of the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères and the ISAF Grade 1 Holland Regatta in Medemblik Sophie DE TURCKHEIM (FRA) is not competing in Split.
Six more races are scheduled for the qualifying series, with two each day until the four race final series on Thursday and Friday.
In the men's event Croatia's Tonci STIPANOVIC and Tonko KUZMANIC both started with a win and a second place to top the leaderboard. STIPANOVIC was brimming with confidence after his and his compatriot's strong start, 'We are along way ahead of the others in strong wind. We crossed the finish line with advantage of 200 meters and in these condition nobody can beat us,' said the two times Laser Radial World Junior Champion.
The home sailors are also on top in the youth fleets with Ivan TARITAS tied on five points with Germany's Christian GOLNIK in the men's and Tina MIHELIC three points clear in the women's fleet.
Top Ten After Two Races
| Pos |
Nation |
Helm |
R1 |
R2 |
Pts |
| 1 |
USA |
Paige RAILEY |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| 2 |
FIN |
Sari MULTALA |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| 3 |
POL |
Katarzyna SZOTYNSKA |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| 4 |
NED |
Merel WITTEVEEN |
3 |
6 |
9 |
| 5 |
SWE |
Karin SODERSTROM |
7 |
3 |
10 |
| 6 |
USA |
Anna TUNNICLIFFE |
3 |
7 |
10 |
| 7 |
FRA |
Sarah STEYAERT |
10 |
2 |
12 |
| 8 |
GBR |
Lizzie VICKERS |
8 |
5 |
13 |
| 9 |
GER |
Christiane DE NIJS |
5 |
8 |
13 |
| 10 |
ESP |
Alicia CEBRIAN |
7 |
6 |
13 |
ISAF. Image, Action from day one in Split:© Natasa Seric