Slingsby retains lead into Laser Medal Race
As the Laser Gold fleet went into its last two races Saturday, the big question on every one’s mind was whether Australia’s reigning world Laser champion, Tom Slingsby, could out-point all contenders and become unbeatable for the gold medal.
It was not to be, with the well-credentialed sailor, who has won five of his 10 races, having his worst day with 10th and 12th-place finishes.
However, it still leaves him 14 points clear of German Simon Goteluschen, who came in under the radar with a second and a dropped 23rd.
Slingsby said: “Basically, all day I was probably just too conservative. I didn’t take any risks and I just slowly leaked points.”
On the races: “Both races I had good position, all I needed was one good result. To sail two drops today when the others were back in the pack, I thought this was my opportunity to wrap it up. It’s quite frustrating actually, I should have sailed better, I think.”
Asked about the light winds, Slingsby said: “It was just this real light shifty sea breeze, it never really filled in properly.”
With a seventh-place finish ensuring him of victory if Goteluschen wins on Sunday, Slingsby is on target for his third world Laser title and his ultimate goal of gold at next year’s London Olympic Games.
“I’m sure it’ll just be a case of watching my closest rivals, I don’t think there will be any match racing, I think it will be a case of watching them and sticking close, making sure they don’t get enough points in between.”
Groteluschen was naturally happy with his first race result Saturday but unhappy with the second, which he dropped.
“In the first race I had a good start to the right, took subtle shifts with more wind to the right. It was raced in five-seven-knot winds and was pretty flat out there but I had good speed.”
He admitted to making mistakes in the second race. “It was a pretty bad start and it was hard to come back from that.”
Austrian Andreas Geritzer, just four points behind second-placed Groteluschen at the end of race 10, moved from seventh to fourth after recording fifth and sixth placings, citing “two good races”.
He said he gained the pressure side of the course on the upwind legs of race 9. “It was important to find the pressure and constantly check your centre board and rudder.”
On his chances for a medal on Sunday, he said: “I just want to enjoy it. I’m happy to be inside the top 10 in the Laser class. Everyone knows how hard that is.”
New Zealand’s Andrew Murdoch cemented fifth position with sixth and fourth efforts to be within striking distance of the medals.
“The winds were really tricky but I sailed well today and had my head out of the boat. I never panicked and I was going quick.
“I am maintaining consistently good form going into London (Olympic Games),” he said.
Having a stellar day was the USA’s Rob Crane with victory in the race 9 and second in race 10 for 14th overall, a big leap from 33rd at the start of the day.
“Today I qualified for the Olympic Games. I started my Olympic campaign in 2009. If I did not think I had a chance I would not have gone down this road.
“Two and a half years ago I was in the silver fleet. If I continue improving, I have a chance to medal in 2012.”
Also missing out on a top ten place was Tonci Stipanovic (CRO), who finished 11th overall. He is the 2010 and 2011 European champion and beat Slingsby and Paul Goodison (GBR) in 2010 and will race in Weymouth and Portland next year.
Goodison slipped from second to sixth in the rankings with a 21st and 12th on Saturday.
“It’s always fun to sail and try to be the best. The race committee did a very good job. This time I did not sail too good. It’s a good result,” Stipanovic said.
Jean Baptiste Bernaz (FRA), who finished 12th overall, despite three second finishes, said: “It is one more time and one more expense. I finished 12th, not far from the Medal race. I am a little sad; only 11 guys to beat next year!”
Medal race competitors (subject to protests):
- Tom Slingsby (AUS) 35
- Simon Groteluschen (GER) 49
- Nick Thompson (GBR) 52
- Andreas Geritzer (AUT) 53.
- Andrew Murdoch (NZL) 53
- Paul Goodison (GBR) 59
- Ashley Brunning (AUS) 60
- Johan Wigforss (SWE) 72
- Tom Burton (AUS) 74
- Pavlos Kontides (CYP) 80