Australian Laser Championships Day 6 - Jekell and Hyde weather

by Josh Sampson on 2 Jan 2010
Day 6 of the 2010 Australian Laser Championships.

Relaxation, recovery and reminiscing. These are some of the Lay Day activities that would have seemed far off in the distance after the Adelaide weather turned Jekell and Hyde on Day 6 of the 2010 Australian Laser Championships.

After a favourable forecast with light to moderate winds predicted, seas rose and winds swung quickly peaking at around six feet and gusting at 20-25 knots. All three Classes had some casualties with 11 competitors choosing not to compete, 4 failing to finish and a disqualification in 4.7 Class.

The majority of competitors did, however, manage to stick it out with business running near enough as usual. The juggernaut that is Tom Slingsby rolled on winning Race 7 ahead of Ashley Brunning and Jeemin Ha of Korea in Full Rig. Ha made a late run following the 2nd mark after Queenslander Ryan Palk showed plenty of grit in passing both marks in third place. Queenslander Daniel Smith had another good day out claiming Race 7 in the 4.7 Class ahead of Frenchman Laszlo Horvath and Singapore’s Terence Jianjie Choo. In Radial Qualifying, Seng Leong Koh continued Singapore’s hot streak ahead of Malaysian Romzi Mohd Muhamed and French Youth sailor Maxine Mazard who shot into contention with a 3rd place finish.

Some things have changed in each Class and some have stayed the same with ties again for first, second and third in Race 8 of Radial Qualifying. Seng Leong Koh and Tasmanian Elliot Noye couldn’t be split for first while young Queenslander Mitchell Kennedy and Western Australian Matthew Wearn tied for second. Third place was shared between Chris Jones of Tasmania and Australian Apprentice Danny Fuller.

In 4.7 Class, Frenchman Laszlo Horvath stormed back into the lead after winning Race 8 ahead of Queensland duo Josh Franklin and Daniel Smith who finished second and third respectively.

In Full Rig, Tom Slingsby made it eight on the trot to virtually put one hand on the Championship ahead of New South Wales’ James Burman and Swiss Christoph Bottoni.

The overall standings after Day 6 are as follows:

Radial –
1. Seng Leong Koh (SIN) (17pts)
2. Romzi Mohd Mohamed (MAS) (34pts)
3. Maxine Mazard (44pts)

4.7 –
1. Laszlo Horvath (19pts)
2. Lloyd Collings (VIC)/Terence Jianjie Choo (SIN) (35pts)
3. Mark Spearman (WA) (43pts)

Full Rig –
1. Tom Slingsby (NSW) (8pts)
2. Ashley Brunning (NSW) (30pts)
3. Christoph Bottoni (SUI) (33pts)

Full results: http://www.yachting.org.au/site/yachting/event/22384/default.html

The Radials will now be split into Gold and Silver Fleet for the remaining two days while 4.7 Class and Full Rigs will continue as per normal from Races 9-12 through until Monday. Weather conditions on Day 7 are expected to be much lighter with mostly sunny conditions and moderate afternoon sea breezes and an expected maximum of 26 degrees.