Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken (NED) are back in form, shifting into first place overall in very tough conditions. The pair were second in the first race of day two, and then won the remaining two races, rising to the occasion as the breeze built to the edge of sailability. If the understated Dutch pair can win again, this time on home waters, it would be the second time any 49er team has managed the threepeat after global legends Burling and Tuke (NZL) did it from 2018 through 2020.
They almost managed something harder, winning three races in a day at an Elite 49er competition. They pulled of that feat on day 3 of the Test Event, something only done once by Burling and Tuke and once by Wadlow and Rast in recorded 49er history (race results pre-2008 are hard to find)
Dickson and Waddilove (IRL) had the second-best day two, their 1, 3, 2, pulled them into fifth overall.
Lucas Rual and Emile Amoros (FRA) scored a 5, 1, 1 and moved into seventh.
There are three qualifying fleets of 49er, meaning nine daily wins are available. As usual for 49er qualifying, the points are incredibly close to qualify for gold fleet. If the split were to happen today, five teams would squeak into the top 25 on 41 points, while Wang and Qi (CHN) who were sitting in third overall last night, would miss out on 42 points. Three more races are scheduled for day three, after which the fleet will be split into gold, silver, and bronze.
Ten different nations currently make up the top 10 overall, and as a reminder the top 10 nations in this regatta, excluding the pre-qualified France, will earn berths in Paris.
The 49er fleet was the last on the water and got the biggest conditions of the regatta so far.
For all the results, photos, tracking and more head to International 49er Class Association » 2023 World Sailing Championship
