RS Feva Worlds: Three Kiwis on top seven - Day 2
by RS Feva/Sail-World NZ 24 Jul 2019 16:58 NZST
24 July 2019
Simon Cooke and Oskar Masfen (NZL) - Day 1 of the 2019 RS Feva World Championships, Follonica Bay, Italy © Elena Giolai / Fraglia Vela Riva
The Qualification round of the RS Feva World Championships being sailed at Follonica Bay, Italy, has concluded, with a New Zealand crew on top of the leaderboard.
The second day of racing was conducted in light winds and 35-degree temperatures.
Simon Cooke, 1992 World 470 champion, and crew Oskar Masfen had another solid day but as they arrive on shore they described the tense racing out on the course. “The British girls were so quick upwind!” explained Simon, “we are racing well and really enjoying ourselves!” With a grin on his face, Oskar added “It is so great to race against other countries and people speaking other languages. The RS Feva Worlds have been so amazing, fun and entertaining!”
Cooke and Masfen hold a four-point lead ahead of a group of seven crews - which contain four British crews and three from New Zealand. Josh Hyde and Zach Fong (NZL) who were second after the first day of racing have dropped back to fourth overall. Just four points cover the second to sixth placegetters. Blake Hinsley and Nicholas Drummond have improved one place to lie in seventh overall. A fourth New Zealand crew of Amelie Marseille and Daniel Brodie from Manly Sailing Club are in 87th place overall in the 200 strong fleet.
Before heading on the water, the Chinese team talked about how, at the very last minute their visas were approved, and they arrived in Italy with only one day before racing started. “We are so excited to finally be here and be able to race. We came 2nd at Hong Kong race week so jumped at the chance to come to the RS Feva World Championships “explained the Chinese team from Guangzhou Sailing Club.
The fleet launched into another glamorous day of racing in Follonica Bay. Raulf Berry and his crew Ollie Peters continued their momentum, posting two bullets and a 10th. “In three words the RS Feva Worlds are competitive, sociable and hot!” Ollie described as he came off the water wearing a very fetching pink bucket hat.
Millie Irish/ Tasmyn Green and Gabriella Clifton/ Daisy Weston are currently battling it out in 5th and 6th place respectively for the first female title heading into the final series. William Pank and Sebastian Gotto from Norwich School, GBR, had a strong day posting a 1. 4, 3 after a rocky start.
Click here to see the provisional results after Day 2
The 200 boat fleet from 23 countries will be split into gold, silver and bronze fleets for the rest of the series.