Laser Radial World Championship 2003

2003 LASER RADIAL WORLD & EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
2003 LASER RADIAL OPEN WORLD & EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
2003 LASER RADIAL WOMEN’S WORLD & EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Fraglia della Vela di Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy, 25 July - 9 August

Mixed results for leaders

Rain overnight and cloud once again prevented the thermal wind on Lake Garda from developing. After a short delay, the 290-strong fleet was sent afloat in 6 knots of northerly wind. Only one race could be completed before a rain squall and 35-knot winds sent the fleet back ashore.

In both the male and female fleets new faces appeared at the front. In the male gold fleet Samuel Lelievre from France led Bartosz Andrysiak POL across the finish line. In the women's fleet Beatrix Fontius from Germany took line honours from Alexia Palmer from Monaco. The light winds provided a challenge for a number of lead sailors with several scoring badly. Worst affected was Aron Lolic from Croatia whose 27th place dropped him from 2nd overall to 5th. His fellow countryman, Karlo Krpeljevic, was once again a model of consistency. His 8th place maintains his lead with a clear advantage over the rest of the fleet, especially considering that apart from an OCS score he has never finished outside the top ten.

It was a similar story in the women's fleet for defending champion, Katarzyna Szotynska from Poland. Her 8th place maintains her overall lead whilst her closest rivals, Krystal Weir AUS and Nufar Edelman ISR, scored an 18th and 16th respectively.

The Race Committee have scheduled an 8.30 am start for the final day in the hope that the northerly "Peler" wind is maintained and 3 races can be completed. With a second discard allowed after 10 races, both championships are still wide open and set for an exciting final.