Women’s Skiff – 49erFX
It was an inauspicious start to the Danish campaign for a medal in the Women’s Skiff in the first race on the previous day, when Jena Hansen and Katja Salskov-Iversen were UFD disqualified for breaking the start line too soon. However, they have since made amends with four second places and a fourth, catapulting the Danes to the top of the 49erFX tree. Tied in second overall are two former World Champion teams, Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) and Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL). Meech will be buoyed by having seen her brother move into third place overall before the Laser Men’s Medal Race in two days’ time. The 2016 and 2015 World Champions, representing Spain and Italy respectively, hold fourth and fifth overall at the halfway stage of the 49erFX qualifying series.
Grael commented, “It has been a very good day. The Danish also sailed very well, muscling out top finishes in every race to date. We are happy to be in the fight. We know that we have a good speed and we can recover when we don’t start well. Now we are looking forward to a rest day and we’re looking forward to racing outside with the wind and the waves.”
The four 49erFX races were broadcast live to the world by Olympic TV providing wonderful imagery of the intense downwinds and tactical upwinds for this first time Olympic event. While the much shiftier first day saw many teams score well, day 2 brought most of the favorites to the forefront. Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL), Berta Betanzos with Tamara Echegoyen (ESP), and the Brazians all scored under 20 points over the four races, while the danes score only 10 points.
Vicky Jurczok with Anika Llorenz (GER) might have sailed the best of all, with four top tens but none of them in the top five. Sailing within the pack can often be much more difficult than being out in front but they managed to move forward through each race to move up the standings after an average first day.
The fleet takes a day off now while the other race courses are used and will be back in action for two more three race days and a medal race. Find all the links and photos at: https://49er.org/event/2016-olympic-games/ or join the
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