One point separates Laser Worlds leaders

Tonci Stipanovic from Croatia heads the leader board by one point at the Laser World Championships in Vallarta, Mexico.

In a 10 knot south westerly breeze Matthew Wearn from Australia led the blue fleet round the first mark ahead of Wannes van Laer (BEL) and Julio Alsogaray (ARG).   Stipanovic took the lead ahead of Wearn after a good second windward leg when both pulled clear of Alsogaray and the chasing pack to then lead the fleet home.  Germany’s Olympic representative, Philipp Buhl, was a major casualty at the start of the blue fleet race when he had to retire after being given a second yellow flag penalty on the start line.

In the yellow fleet, sailing on the outer loop, overnight leader Nick Thompson (GBR), could only manage a fifth behind Jean-Bapiste Bernaz and the first three of Marco Gallo (ITA), Kacper Zieminski (POL) and Francesco Marrai (ITA) who traded places in front of him.

The wind increased for the second races of the day bringing larger waves enabling sailors to catch some good downwind rides and, for a few, also the attention of the on water jury.

The previously favoured right hand side of the course was not so dominant although most of the favourites scored well.  In the yellow fleet, Olympic silver medalist, Pavlos Kontides (CYP) won the port end pin position at the start and tacked to cross the fleet early to lead all the way home ahead of Bernaz.  Five places back from the pin Thompson got trapped at the port end and had to take a two turn penalty after he inadvertently impeded another boat whilst trying to clear his wind.  Thompson did well to round the first mark in 20th and then recover to 13th which is currently his discard race.

Luke Elliot (AUS) also led from start to finish in the blue fleet with Alsogaray and Scheidt again in single figures after both climbing through the fleet.

Five points separate the first seven places in the overall results.

Overall Results after 4 races with 1 discard
1.Tonci Stipanovic CRO 6pts
2.Nick Thompson GBR 7 pts
3. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA 8pts
4. Matthew Wearn AUS 9pts
5. Robert Scheidt BRA 10pts
6. Julio Alsogary ARG 10 pts
7.Francesco Marrai ITA 11pts
8. KacperZieminski POL 14pts
9.Philipp Buhl GER 18pts
10. Marco Gallo ITA 20pts

Event Website
http://www.laserworlds2016.org/index.php/competitors-2/laser-standard-men

Results
http://www.laserworlds2016.org/index.php/mstand-results