41st Semaine Olympique Française

Full results at: http://sof.ffvoile.net/results/finn.htm


Finn focus in Hyeres - Sunday 19 April

World number one Gasper Vincec (SLO) underlined his ranking position today with two great races at the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres, placing second in the first race and then going one better to win the second race in light and unstable winds as the fourth event in the ISAF Sailing World Cup got underway.

However, the Slovenian is on equal points with Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) who won the first race and followed that up with a second place. Third place after two race belongs to Ed Wrght (GBR) the current overall leader of the ISAF Sailing World Cup for Finns after a win at the Rolex Miami OCR and a second place at the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía MAPFRE.

With a delayed start to racing to wait for the sea breeze to settle, the light and shifty wind gradually moved round from the south-east to the west and produced an interesting results sheet at the end of the day. The light conditions brought a number of unfamiliar faces to the front. Michael Maier (CZE) a veteran of four Olympic, produced a relatively consistent 7th and 3rd to lie in fourth overall, while 2007 European Champion Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) placed 4th and 8th to sit in fifth position.

The top ten after two races is rounded out by Alexandros Dragoutsis (GRE), Marin Misura (CRO), Thomas Le Breton (FRA), Pieter Jan Postma (NED) and Rafal Szukiel (POL). Meanwhile, the winner in Palma last week Giles Scott (GBR) placed 6th in the first race but then had the misfortune of two yellow flags in race two and had to retire.

With the forecast for more of the same conditions on Monday, sailors are hoping for more breeze later in the week to stretch their legs.

Finn focus in Hyeres – Monday 20 April

Croatia and Slovenia are running away with the lead in Finn class at the 41st Semaine Olympique Française. Both Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) and Gasper Vincec (SLO) produced near perfect results on a less than perfect day to keep a firm grip on the top two positions after two more light and shifty races were sailed in Hyeres today.

A fourth and a second for Kljakovic Gaspic and a fifth and a sixth for Vincec leaves them well clear at the top of the board after two days racing. Third place is occupied by another Croatian, Marin Misura (CRO), winner of the second race today. The challenging conditions have meant that only these three sailors have managed to be consistently in the top ten in each race so far, and they are well clear on the chasing group.

Kljakovic Gaspic commented on his form, “I did some good training in Hyeres after Palma and made my boat and equipment fully ready. There was nothing more to do so I am fully confident in my gear and in myself. I am sailing really relaxed and not counting. When I'm behind I just want to sail fast and pass the boat in front of me. And I do it pretty often, especially downwind.”

On the conditions so far he said, “It was tricky, light and changing from minute to minute. For today, I just sailed and tried to keep with the pack.”

The first race was won by Andrew Mills (GBR), confident after his bronze medal finish in Palma a week ago, but he ended the day in 10th after a 26th in the second race. Giles Scott (GBR) bounced back after a DNF yesterday to follow his team mate across the line in the first race and then place eighth in race four to climb to 11th overall. Meanwhile Michael Maier (CZE) hung onto fourth place with a ninth and a 12th.

Yesterday, Ed Wright (GBR) had commented, “The wind was very tricky with 30 degree shifts and light winds. All in all it was a day to stay alive, and all too easy to get some big scores.” He must have been ruing those words today as he picked up a 29th in the first race of the day and a 10th in the second to drop to sixth overall, through with a discard coming into effect after race five tomorrow, the landscape in the top ten could change considerably.

Finn focus in Hyeres – Tuesday 21 April

The British Finn sailors were on a mid-regatta charge on day three of the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres. The weather was still being difficult with yet another postponement ashore to wait for the wind, and the first race didn’t start until 14.00, but the results that followed further added to the mixed bag that Hyeres has produced so far with races wins for Ed Wright (GBR) and Giles Scott (GBR).

Currently leading the ISAF Sailing World Cup for Finns, Wright put his miserable Monday behind him to come right back into this series with a win in race five and then a third in race six to climb to fifth overall at the mid-way stage. Meanwhile Scott posted a fifth in the first race of the day and followed that up with a win in race six to move up to third overall. Both sailors have now discarded a high score so will be looking to consolidate on their positions over the next two days.

However Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) maintained his overnight lead and has extended his lead to nine points over Gasper Vincec (SLO) in second. Kljakovic Gaspic picked up a second and a fifth today, while Vincec faltered slightly with a sixth and a seventh. This was his worst day so far, but in these conditions it could still be considered a pretty good day's work.

Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) is showing his best form since his only major result in the class, winning the European Championship back in 2007. Today he posted a third and a 13th, to climb to back up to sixth overall, while Marin Misura (CRO) drops one places after an eighth and a fourth. Bryan Boyd (USA) also reproduced some of the form that left him in 11th place in Palma with a second place in race six.

Boyd said, "I tried something different today. I've been struggling in the light conditions we've seen here all week, so moved the rig around a bit and seem to be holding height better. The second race today was another light air stress-fest. I shifted my starting strategy to be more aggressive and at the ends of the line. I nailed a pin start and was able to tack away immediately. This was definitely the pivotal moment of the race, as the right side carried progressively more pressure the further in you went. I held my lane all the way to the right, ducked a few boats coming back from the right and hitched up just shy of the layline in nice pressure. I worked a bit of boatspeed around the pack and rounded second, just behind Giles and in front of Ed. We carried 
those positions all the way around the track, save for a few minutes on the second beat when Ed found a private lift with pressure that had Giles and I in bit of a panic before it eventually caved back in."

"The conditions today were the first that seemed to resemble almost sensible boat racing. It's been a tough pill to swallow on a fair few of these races when you seem to have done it all right, only to end up all wrong. Having a small extra turn of speed today made all the difference in being able to pounce on the opportunities when they were there. For sure, Ivan is showing us all that he's got speed to burn in this stuff.Hoping for another couple days of reasonably stable breeze to salvage a small measure of this regatta."

Four more races are scheduled before Friday’s medal race, and with the way things have gone so far, there is still everything to play for in this 41st Hyeres Sailing Week.

Finn focus in Hyeres – Wednesday 22 April

It would seem that Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) can do no wrong. After four days of an exceptionally up and down regatta at the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres, he has not yet placed worse than fifth and whatever happens in tomorrow's two races will go into Friday's medal race with a useful points lead. Second placed Gasper Vincec (SLO), 12 points behind, is also doing well and has an identical points gap over third placed Marin Misura (CRO).

With the wind as fickle as ever for the first race, there were massive place changes and variation of pressure across the course area. which was again delayed while waiting for the wind. In fact the first race of the day, race seven of the series, didn't start until 16.00 as a week seabreeze worked its way down to the course.

Gaspic followed a fifth place in today's first race by his second race win of the week. Vincec had a more up and down day with an 11th and second while Misura actually climbed one place after posting an eighth and a 28th.

Gaspic said, “ I have good boat feeling and handling in light conditions. I am also fast so I can sail simply and sail with the group. I started training in Palma after the Olympic Games, and then later did two weeks training in Palma with the British. I train now with Marin and a new young coach. If we can continue like this we will both finish high.”

Bryan Boyd (USA) won the first race of the day. “I had a horrendous start in the first race, and only managed to claw my way back into the 20s at the top mark. Down the first run the pressure began to drop out, and I saw a bit of wind coming down through the Radial fleet on the inner loop. I linked into a nice bit of pressure and found myself back in the top ten near the bottom of the run. It got pretty weird at the bottom as there was a convergence zone of no wind that wobbled around and it paid huge to keep jibing back out for more breeze. I rounded in fifth and by this time the pressure had more or less settled. I picked a couple of nice shifts and was able to pull into the lead at the top. Down the run it was mostly port jibe and I went into 'Nascar Last Lap' mode staying directly in front of Eduard [Skornyakov] all the way down.”

After a second and a first place in the past two days Boyd is optimistic about his boatspeed. “I've been struggling in the light conditions we've seen here all week, so I moved the rig around a bit and I seemed to be holding height better. It's been a tough pill to swallow on a fair few of these races when you seem to have done it all right, only to end up all wrong. Having a small extra turn of speed made all the difference in being able to pounce on the opportunities when they were there. But for sure, Ivan is showing us all that he's got speed to burn in this stuff.”

Elsewhere in the fleet, sailors were mixing high and low scores like they were going out of fashion. Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) placed second and 13th to climb to fourth overall, while Giles Scott (GBR) posted a 26th and 3rd to drop two places to fifth.

Michael Maier (CZE) is having his best regatta in a long time and placed fourth and 14th today to drop two places to sixth while Ed Wright (GBR) has his second horrible day with a 33rd and a 10th to drop one more place to seventh overall, though two good races tomorrow will allow him to drop the 33rd as the second discard kicks in.

As usual there are a lot of boats milling round the magic 10th place and hoping to make the medal race cut, but with variable winds forecast again for Thursday, there could still be some ups and downs to come.

Finn focus in Hyeres – Thursday 23 April

The medal race for Finns at the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres will be a showdown between two sailors who have dominated the headlines all week. Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) goes into the deciding race with an 11 point margin over world ranked number one, Gasper Vincec (SLO). A sixth place or better will seal Kljakovic Gaspic’s first ever Grade 1 regatta win.

Meanwhile Vincec has a 12 point margin over Ed Wright (GBR) and a 14 point margin over Marin Misura (CRO) and these two are now his only threats. For the bronze medal place, Giles Scott (GBR) and Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) are also in with a chance.

Vincec won his second race of the week in the first race today with fellow countryman Tine Moze (SLO) second and Ed Wright (GBR) in third. Regatta leader Kljakovic Gaspic could only manage an eighth, which he discarded. This brought Wright up to third overall.

The second race of the day and the final opening series race was won by Deniss Karpak (EST) who took the lead on the first downwind. Just two metres behind him was the ever consistent Kljakovic Gaspic, the only sailor here to score top ten positions in every race. Third place in race race went to Misura, while Wright ended the day with the best results and a fourth place finish.

Karpak said, “It has been five extremely difficult days. Every upwind is a lottery; the second one today maybe not, but the first for sure. The wind was 5-15 knots with holes with no wind at all and 30 degree shifts. I don't like these tricky conditions. I had always lost places in my Laser in these conditions, but now I feel much better.” He said the key today was “Risk management and relaxation. I was close to being out of the top 10, but I put my emotions out of my head and concentrated only on boat handling.”

Kljakovic Gaspic said, “Today I just wanted to stay close to Gasper and keep him out of top ten. In first race I had a really good position but made a bad choice on first downwind and on the gate rounding.” In the second race Vincec was a long way back and decided to go for an early shower, with little chance to get back in the top 10. And for tomorrow, “I am relaxed. I have nothing to lose. I just have to sail in the medal race like I have done all this week.”

One of the sailors to scrape into the top ten is Tapio Nirkko (FIN). Fourth overall in Palma he has struggled this week. “Today I wanted to sail without any big risks and there I succeeded better than the other guys around the top 10. I'm looking forward to having a bit more breeze tomorrow and just gonna enjoy the medal race full on!”


The medal race line up looks likes this:

Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) – runner up in Europeans in 2007 and 2008. Seems to go best in light winds and has found new speed this week.

Gasper Vincec (SLO) – Also goes well in the light, and the only sailor this week to get close to Kljakovic Gaspic’s consistency. Should be safe in silver bar a major upset.

Edward Wright (GBR) – Current leader of the ISAF Sailing World Cup and great at winning medal races. Good chance of a medal, especially if the breeze is up but still has it all to do to win a medal.

Marin Misura (CRO) – Good all round sailor with a lot of experience, but not yet proved himself in the medal race scenario. Needs to beat Wright by one place to take a medal and be within three places of Giles Scott.

Giles Scott (GBR) – Had a very up and down week (who hasn’t) but will struggle to medal here. Needs to beat Wright by four places and Misura by three.

Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) – sailing his best regatta since the 2007 Europeans, which he won. Doesn’t go so well in the breeze, but an outside chance of a medal if it all goes wrong for the three above him.

Michael Maier (CZE) – By far, the most experienced sailor here, with four Olympics under his belt. Another sailor who has done far better than his ranking in the variable conditions.

Deniss Karpak (EST) – Only joined the class late last year after sailing the 2008 Olympics in the Laser. This is only his second regatta in the Finn and he is clearly showing great potential for the future.

Tapio Nirkko (FIN) – After a fourth place in Palma, has been a bit inconsistent this week, but prefers more breeze.

Peer Moberg (NOR) – Making the top ten with only three top ten positions this week, underlines the nature of the racing the sailors have endured in Hyeres.
 

Finn focus in Hyeres – medal race - Friday 24 April

Sixth place was enough for Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) to take the overall win in the Finn class at the 41st Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres today, his first Grade 1 win in the class. With perfect conditions for the medal race of 15-20 knots and steep waves, the race actually started on time and finally the sailors could stretch their legs and flex their muscles.

Race winner and second overall was Ed Wright (GBR), who seems to be making a habit of winning medal races. After snatching the Rolex Miami OCR from Chris Cook (CAN) by winning the medal race and then also winning the medal race in Palma to grab second place from team mate Andrew Mills (GBR), he has done the same trick in Hyeres and overturned an 12 point deficit from Gapser Vincec (SLO). Vincec, who has occupied second overall since day two, finished last in the medal race and dropped to the bronze medal position.

Afterwards Wright said, “The medal race was great fun. We had some wind and wavse at last and the conditions were amazing for sailing. It was thoroughly enjoyable.”

“I kept an eye on the guys close in points, sailed fast and luckily managed to win. Just kept out of trouble really. Another medal race win was particularly nice because it's been tricky sailing this week and we finally had a straightforward race. Also medal races are great as they are all so close and fun with good racing. I just hope I can carry on with the trend!”

The winner in Palma, Giles Scott (GBR) also enjoyed the windy conditions today and followed Wright across the finish line, with Michael Maier (CZE) in third and Peer Moberg (NOR) fourth. With his main competition further back, Scott climbed to fourth overall.
 

Kljakovic Gaspic said, “I had a nice start in a good position with good speed on the beat. My plan was to focus on Gasper. I was in front of him at the start and didn’t let him out of my sight. Then I tacked on him and after some tacks we were on right layline.”

They rounded the first mark eighth and ninth. “I was just ahead by a few metres and on the downwind he had one bad gybe and race for me was finished. I just had to cross the finishing line.”
 

“In this race today I wasn’t thinking of winning. I just had one goal: win the event. And I did it.” The Croatian, who is getting married in the middle of May before heading to the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Holland, commented on the ISAF Sailing World Cup so far. “It is good idea but maybe needs some improvements, perhaps invitations for top sailors and money prizes. Also I think we should have the same sailing instructions and same format of racing, number of discards, and so on.”
 

This was the first medal race for Deniss Karpak (EST), in only his second Finn regatta. He said, “Now I have more experience, so that is the main thing. I feel more comfortable in the Finn fleet, and know everybody better than in Palma. It’s much easier if you know the guys you sail with.”
 

Tapio Nirkko (FIN) who placed 5th in the race to end up 10th overall said, “The racing here in Hyeres this year has been very challenging. The light and super tricky winds set up a different week for us compared to Palma. I think the key to this week was to sail against the fleet mostly and avoid being apart from the top guys. I’ve also had a few problems with the upwind speed so the absolute top was not possible for me to reach on this week.”