Allianz Youth World Sailing Championships in The Hague
There are some tense scenarios lining up for the final day of the Allianz Youth World Sailing Championships in The Hague on Thursday.
Today’s wind gradually built from 5 knots through to a healthier 8 to 10 knots in the mid-afternoon and topped out at 14 knots with good waves by the early evening. The change of conditions brought a few changes to some of the leaderboards in the 11 diverse sailing events.
Last year’s champion in the ILCA 6 male one-person dinghy struggled in today’s three races. Sebastian Kempe (BER) has worn the leader’s yellow bib since day one but he goes into the final day wearing a standard bib having dropped to fourth overall. Just four points ahead of him are three sailors all tied at the top on 26 points: Peter Barnard (USA), Rocco Wright (IRL) and Ole Schweckendiek (GER). With two races still to be sailed on Thursday, any one of these four, along with the Israeli and Slovenian sailors, have a realistic shot at gold.
In Oman seven months ago, Kempe came from behind to steal gold at the very last gasp of the 2021 Youth Worlds. This might give him confidence that he can pull off the same trick in The Hague. The Bermudian was having none of it.
ILCA 6 Female: McMahon marches over the horizon
Eve McMahon sailed out of her skin to notch up scores of 3,1,1, moving the Irish sailor out to a comfortable lead ahead of the ILCA 6 Female fleet. Having finished fourth in Oman last year, McMahon has a steely determination to finish off her youth career in the best way possible. She will settle for nothing less than gold, and is well placed to do so. Counting four first places, one second and discarding a third, The Irish sailor sits on six points with Australia’s Evie Saunders 14 points behind. USA, the Netherlands and Spain are all within striking distance of second place.
420 Male/Mixed: Israel in the box seat
Provided Israel finishes in the top nine places of Thursday’s final race for the 420 Male/ Mixed fleet, this boy/girl crew will secure gold. Roy Levy and Ariel Gal were very comfortable in today’s stronger wind.
Female Two Person Dinghy – 420: Four-way fight for the medals
A black flag disqualification for starting too early in the final race of the afternoon saw the German crew of Amelie Wehrle and Amelie Rinn (GER) lose their yellow bib as they fall to third overall. With one race to go on Thursday, and just four points separating the top four teams, it’s all to play for between new leaders, Italy along with Spain, Germany and Japan.
More Fleets
Female Windsurfer – Youth iQFOiL: Tamar Steinberg (ISR) has won all her races so far
Male Windsurfer – Youth iQFOiL: Charlie Dixon (GBR) is counting eight wins from 10 races and holds the lead
Mixed Two Person Multihull – Nacra 15: Switzerland move into the lead
Female Skiff – 29er: Argentina leads by a single point from France
Male Skiff – 29er: Argentina leads New Zealand by 6 p
Formula Kite Male: A string of first places in the stronger breeze of the afternoon have put defending champion Max Maeder (SGP) back in the yellow bib ahead of Riccardo Pianosi (ITA).
Formula Kite Female: Julia Damasiewicz (POL) holds a three-point lead ahead of Héloïse Pegourie (FRA).
For results from The Hague, go to worldsailingywc.org
