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The first day of gold-fleet racing was also moving day for Thomas Crook in cold and breezy conditions at the iQFOIL European championships in Patras, Greece.
The young Aucklander climbed six places to sit just outside the top 10 halfway through the event, that yesterday saw several disqualifications as the world’s leading competitors jostled for an advantage on the start line.
Crook managed to get off the line cleanly in all four of his races - and down the favoured end of a course again battered by strong winds.
“I was really happy to come away with some solid results today. The starts are always really tough in gold fleet but I managed to round the top mark in a decent enough position and on the reach and downwind, especially, I had good pace,” said Crook, who claimed three top-10 placings including a second in his third race.
“That allowed me to bank back a few places and punch in some solid results.”
Thomas Crook on the charge on day 3 in Patras. Photo / Tasman Rowntree
Teammate Josh Armit, who started the day in fifth, dropped four places after struggling at the start and leaving himself plenty to do on the downwind.
Armit is six points ahead of Crook and 28 behind a new-look top-three – German world champion Sebastian Koerdel now leads from Luuc van Opzeeland, with Nicolas Goyard of France sliding from number one to three.
Kiwis Patrick Haybittle and Eli Liefting are 36th and 40th, respectively.
The first day of gold-fleet racing saw several black flags. Photo / Sailing Energy
With two more days of finals racing ahead of the medal race, consistency at the start line will be key for the Kiwis.
“We had about 10 guys black-flagged (disqualified) at the start of the first race and that left many of the competitors a bit gun-shy,” coach Nathan Handley explained.
“In the gold fleet, it’s just so much harder to come back [from a poor start] but we’re still right in there.”
Meanwhile, Veerle ten Have had a tough day in the women’s fleet.
The bronze medallist at last month’s Princess Sofia Regatta had a best score of 17 in her four races and sits 17th overall.
Results and standings after day 3 of the iQFOIL European championships in Patras, Greece.
Women’s fleet (89 boards)
1st: Sharon Kantor (Isr) (15) (10) 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 (2) 1 1 - 11 points
2nd: Tamar Steinberg (Isr) 3 (8) (9) 1 2 2 2 1 6 (21) 4 2 - 23 pts
3rd: Pilar Lamadrid Trueba (Esp) 6 5 5 6 (8) 1 1 (DNC46) 2 1 3 (15) - 30 pts
17th: Veerle ten Have (NZ) 8 2 7 4 (11) 6 7 (17) 26 17 (32) 18 - 95 pts
Men's fleet (114 boards)
1st: Sebastian Koerdel (Ger) 2 (9) 2 1 (7) 3 2 5 2 (11) 1 1 - 19 pts
2nd: Luuc van Opzeeland (Ned) 3 2 2 3 (9) (7) 5 1 1 3 (7) 2 - 22 pts
3rd: Nicolas Goyard (Fra) (1) 1 1 (24) 1 1 1 1 3 (13) 8 11 - 28 pts
9th: Josh Armit (NZ) (10) 5 6 3 2 4 (10) 2 12 16 (21) 6 - 56 pts
11th: Thomas Crook (NZ) 6 2 5 (17) (18) 9 11 15 7 5 2 (16) - 62 pts
36th: Patrick Haybittle (NZ) 16 (30) 8 9 19 22 28 (30) 28 (30) 25 27 - 182 pts
40th: Eli Liefting (NZ) 14 (19) 18 (22) 17 12 12 11 (BFD 58) 49 22 40 - 195 pts
