Optimist World Championship 2007

Perfect winds of 16-18 knots rising later to 20 enabled the race committee to run four races today at the Optimist World Championship in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. An outstanding 1,1,2,3 from Adonis TSIBOUKELIS of Greece sent him shooting up the leader board to a single point behind the current leader Benjamin GREZ of Chile.

Both TSIBOUKELIS and Chris STEELE (NZL) have better second discards which will be taken after the first race tomorrow. But with the possibility of two or more races tomorrow the competition is wide open.

Alexandra MALONEY (NZL) also had a splendid day but is still vulnerable to a fight-back for the girls’ prize by Lara VADLAU (AUT) with bronze almost certainly in the hands of 2006 silver medallist Stephanie ZIMMERMANN (PER).

A target for many sailors is to get the best-ever result from their country, a feat certainly already achieved by VADLAU and in the sights of GREZ. Others who should achieve it include Ian BARROWS (ISV) up from his own 61st last year to currently 16th, Ivan APONTE (PUR) currently 18th and Ard VAN AANHOLT of Curaçao currently 44th. The Caribbean gets better every year!

The final day will, wind gods willing, be a fitting climax to the great, varied racing conditions provided by the bay of Cagliari.