International Finn Association Press Release
Finn Focus at Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE - Day one Monday 29 March
Rafa Trujillo leads Finns after first races in Palma
Rafael Trujillo (ESP) the Spanish sliver medalist from 2004 and the 2007 World Champion sits on top of the 53 boat Finn fleet after day one at the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE in Palma, the third stage of the 2009-2010 ISAF Sailing World Cup.
After yesterday's abandonment for the Finn class, light winds again plagued the race course early on. After a slight delay, the Finns finally got two races in, with a third and a second enough for Trujillo to lead the field on
5 points.
Finn Focus at Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE - Day one Monday 29 March
Rafa Trujillo leads Finns after first races in Palma
Rafael Trujillo (ESP) the Spanish sliver medalist from 2004 and the 2007 World Champion sits on top of the 53 boat Finn fleet after day one at the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE in Palma, the third stage of the 2009-2010 ISAF Sailing World Cup.
After yesterday's abandonment for the Finn class, light winds again plagued the race course early on. After a slight delay, the Finns finally got two races in, with a third and a second enough for Trujillo to lead the field on
5 points.
The first race started at 12:30 with the wind at 8-10 knots. It was won by Gasper Vincec (SLO), followed by Trujillo and then Giles Scott (GBR) in third. The conditions worsened for the second race with a very shifty breeze that decreased substantially during the race. The second race was won by the2009 European Champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO). Second placed Giorgio Poggi (ITA) had a shock after the finish as he was scored OCS, which elevated Peer Moberg (NOR) to second and Trujillo to third.
Trujillo said, "This is only the first day of racing and I am pleased to have started well, but what matters is the result at the end of the week. I have a lot to work on this week. I did make some mistakes today and I have learnt from them and I will keep focusing on improving."
Though expecting to sail three races today, Monday, the Finn class still only got two in as the AP was again raised at 16.12 to send the fleet shore.
After a 12th and a sixth today, Deniss Karpak (EST) lies in 8th overall. He summed up the conditions on the last two days. "There was actually no wind yesterday and we were waiting for RS-X to finish their races and clear the racing area....but when they did that, the wind totally died. Today was the same story, but RS-X were waiting us to come back to shore. Until 12.00 there was no wind and then the sea breeze starts working...but up to 14 knots in the first race and up to 7 in the second one...and then wind starts shifting too much and goes to the west. Now it's already 20 knots and I think tomorrow there will be no races again...according to the forecast."
Caleb Paine (USA), had a great second race to place fifth. He is part of the US Sailing Development Team, a new youth pipeline team. He said, "In the second race I started well with Rafael and went out to the left. I tacked with Rafael and then had the opportunity to go back left with Ivan. I tacked back left and then once near lay line I tacked back ducking Ivan. I was fast going to the starboard lay line and then tacked to round the first mark in the lead. I lost two boats on the downwind but made them back on the second beat. The third beat also went well for me after dropping to sixth after the second run. The downwind was really challenging and close. It all came down to the finish where the speed and boat handling of the other competitors beat me out at the end."
So after two races, Trujillo leads with 5 points ahead of Moberg on 10 points and Kljakovic Gaspic on 11. Racing on Tuesday again looks doubtful with strong winds forecast, but the regatta continues until Friday when the medal races will be held.
Results after 2 races:
1 ESP 100 Rafael TRUJILLO 5
2 NOR 1 Peer MOBERG 10
3 CRO 524 Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPIC 11
4 SLO 5 Gasper VINCEC 12
5 FRA 115 Thomas Le BRETON 13
6 GBR 11 Ed WRIGHT 13
7 GBR 88 Mark ANDREWS 18
8 EST 2 Deniss KARPAK 18
9 POL 7 Rafa SZUKIEL 18
10 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 26
Event website: http://www.blogger.com/www.trofeoprincesasofia.org
Photos: Nico Martínez / Princesa Sofía MAPFRE Class website: http://www.blogger.com/www.finnclass.org
