The awaited change to lighter conditions finally arrived on Day 5 of the Laser Radial Open and Women’s World Championship, the first day of the finals races for the men.

Blue skies and 8-11kt winds meant that upsets were possible. In the men’s gold fleet the first upset was not because of the lighter winds but a starting error by joint series leader, Tom Slingsby AUS who along with Jake Bartrom NZL were scored OCS for jumping the start line in the more competitive gold fleet. Fellow series leader, Michael Blackburn AUS, was not of Slingsby’s misfortune but was also struggling rounding the first mark in 16th place 12 places behind his closest rival, defending champion Aron Lolic from Croatia. On the first reach race leader Daniel Jakobsson had to withdraw after receiving his second yellow flag penalty of the series.

At the bottom of the first downwind leg there was a new race leader in Jamie Joiccheim AUS, ahead of Yann Cloupet MON, Nathan Outteridge AUS and Lolic. Blackburn was up to 10th. Lolic took the lead on the next windward leg ahead of Slingsby, who had failed to see his recall, and Cloupet. Blackburn was now 9th. At the penultimate mark Slingsby was leading ahead of Brazilian, Daniel Pinho and Zac Skullander AUS. Lolic overtook Skullander on the short leg to the finish to lay down the challenge for Blackburn who had climbed to 6th.

In the second race Blackburn left no doubt of his intentions leading the race from start to finish crossing the line ahead of Paul Brinkley AUS. Slingsby could only manage a 19th which dropped him to third overall whilst Lolic put in another consistent performance to finish 8th which moved him into the runner up position.

In the women’s fleet the results were similarly mixed with new faces at the front. Series leader Krstal Weir AUS had her most conservative start of the week being the last person across the start line in the first race of the day. In the lighter conditions her down wind speed was not so dominant and she could only recover to 8th. Out in front Cecilia Carranza ARG scored her fist bullet of the week ahead of Cassie Buckley.

In the second race Weir got away at the start and led round the first mark and led the complete fleet on a reach to the downwind mark of the inner loop instead of directly downwind to the outer loop mark. The correct mark was directly in the glare of the setting sun and difficult to see. The fleet continued on and finished at the correct downwind mark at the second attempt. A protest against the fleet was withdrawn and Weir’s first place stood to give her the overall title without needing to sail the last race.

Two more races are scheduled for today.

Results (provisional)

Male

1 AUS 178640 BLACKBURN Michael 9.0

2 CRO 167831 LOLIC Aron 22.0

3 AUS 178785 SLINGSBY Tom 27.0

4 NZL 178663 MCLAY Blair 37.0

5 NZL 136721 ORAMS Mark 39.0

6 AUS 177729 SKULANDER Nick 41.0

7 NZL 161262 GEALE Jason 49.0

8 NZL 177074 BARTROM Jake 58.5

9 GBR 174628 EMMETT Jon 65.0

10 AUS 178788 CHEW Matthew 66.0

Female

1 AUS 180195 WEIR Krystal 11.0

2 ARG 179356 CARRANZA SAROLI Cecilia 31.5

3 AUS 153136 BRIDGE Christine 34.0

4 NZL 178665 MACKY Jane 40.0

5 ISR 168365 EDELMAN Nufar 46.0

6 AUS 178789 SLINGSBY Alana 51.5

7 NZL 177775 ALEH Jo 52.0

8 SUI 179395 MEYER Corinne 53.0

9 NED 166368 JUTJENS Gea 59.0

10 IRL 173815 HANNA Debbie 61.0