2011 International Lightning Class Association World Championship

[mpowlison]

(Buzios, Brazil, July 24, 2011) The International Lightning Class Association World Championship kicked off today with two fantastic races. The Iate Clube Armacao Buzios - ICAB continued to host a beautiful day of sailing with winds ranging from 14-16 kts the first race and dropping to 9-12 kts during the second race. 30 boats representing 8 Countries took to the line. As with the South Americans and International Masters' Championships held last week, we again had an anxious group that forced a general recall on the first start of the day. The "Z" Flag was hoisted and with the second try they were off.

Racing was tight and consistency was the key to the day. The Chilian Team of Felipe Robles, Pablo Lorca and Andres Guevara finished with a 5, 1 to win the tie for first over the another Chilian Team and last weeks South American Champions, Tito Gonzalez Mas his son Diego Gonzalez Parro and Christian Herman Sanhueza who had a pair of 3's today. Tied for third is the Brazilian Team and last weeks International Masters' Champion team of Claus Biekarck, Gunner Ficker and Marcelo Batista da Silva finishing with a 6, 4. The USA Team of Will Brown, John Faus and Matty Schon also finished the day with a 4, 6 totaling 10 points.

Currently in 5th position is the USA team of Tom Allen Jr, sailing with his son Karl and Steve Davis. They finished the day with a 10, 2. They are followed closely behind by The USA Team, Ryan Ruhlman, Martha Fisher and Nick Turney and the Chilian Team of Cristobal Perez, Philipp Goyeneche and Ignacio Perez both finishing the day with a total of 13 points each. David Starck sailing wih his wife Jody Starck and Ian Jones from the USA won the first race, but were called over in the second race and climbed back to 14th to finish the day with 15 points and an 8th position.

Two races are scheduled for tomorrow and the warning has been moved up to 11 am (10 am EST). Follow live text coverage at www.lightningclass.org.

The events have been made possible by support and grants received by the following sponsors:


* Brazilian Sailing Federation - CBVM sponsored by Bradesco Bank, CPFL, Travel Ace and Tamoyo.
* Rio de Janeiro Sailing Federation - FEVERJ
* City of Búzios Sports and Tourism Secretary's
* Segurigraff HG - High Security Holograms
* Sercon Ltda. A Steris Company
* Saturno Tintas
* Glassit Fiberglass
* Bombril
* Niagara Industrial
* Cerveja Germânia

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - RESULTS DAY 1

Complete Report Link

[mpowlison]

Brazil - Monday July 25, 2011 - Day 2

The second day of the International Lightning Class Association World Championship started with another perfect day of sailing in Buzios, Brazil. Winds were from the East/Southeast at 14-16 kts. The Brazilian Team of Claus Biekarck, Gunner Ficker and Marcelo Batista da Silva kept their head in the game and won the only race of the day on the final beat and are leading the regatta after three races with 11 total points.

The USA team of David Starck, his wife Jody and Ian Jones had similar success and finished 2nd in the race. Cristobal Perez, Philipp Goyeneche and Ignacio Perez from Chile were consistently in the top group and finished with a 3 today.

Rounding out the top 5 are the teams of Will Brown, John Faus and Matty Schon from the USA and Thomas Sumner, Felipe Brito and Fillipe Gil from Brazil.

It was great to see the USA team of Philip Lange, Jonathan Lange and Alister Thomson win the pin and lead around the first two legs. Alejandro Cloos, Carlos de Mare and Julian de Mare from Argentina had similar success around the first half of the race.

Racing was very tight today and it shows in the overall results. Team Biekarck from Brazil has 11 points, The Chilian Team of Tito Gonzalez sailing with his son, Diego and Cristian Herman have 12 total points. Team Brown is in 3rd with 14 points. Right behind them is Felipe Robles, Pablo Lorca and Andres Guevara from Chile with 15 points. The Starck Team is in 6th with 17 total points.

Winds of 25 kts combined with large rolling waves with short, steep, chop in between forced the RC to postpone race 4 and sent the fleet in to shore. Soon after the fleet arrived back at the club racing was canceled for the day.

Race 4 is scheduled to be sailed at 11 am tomorrow.

RESULTS AFTER DAY 2

[mpowlison]

Brazil- Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - Day 3

The third day of the International Lightning Class Association World Championship was dominated by the Brazilian Team of Thomas Sumner, Felipe Brito and Fillipe Gil who won both races today. They convincingly won the frist race today by over 1 minute and 20 seconds ahead of the fleet. Winds today were from the East/Northeast at 9-11 kts and built to about 12-14 kts as the day went on. Unlike the past two days, the water was relatively flat with no waves or chop.

The Brazilian Team of Claus Biekarck, Gunner Ficker and Marcelo Batista da Silva continue to sail well and took a 4, 2 today. They are tied for first with the Chilian Team of Tito Gonzalez sailing with his son, Diego and Cristian Herman who had a 2, 3 today. Both have 17 total points.

The USA team of David Starck, his wife Jody and Ian Jones were consistent today with a 3, 5 and are in 3rd overall with 25 total points. Team Sumner is on their heals in 4th place with 26 total points. Felipe Robles, Pablo Lorca and Andres Guevara from Chile are in 5th place with 27 points.

Racing continues tomorrow with an 11 am warning.

RESULTS AFTER DAY 3

[mpowlison]

Buzios, Brazil - Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - Day 4

One race was completed today in the International Lightning Class Association World Championship. This put the regatta back on schedule due to the high winds and seas that delayed racing on Monday afternoon. The Chilian Team of Tito Gonzalez sailing with his son, Diego and Cristian Herman convincingly won the race and is now the sole leader of the regatta with 12 total points. Strong winds of 20+ kts and seas initally postponed racing this morning but then subsided by mid morning and allowed PRO, Claudio Buckup to run a perfect 5 leg windward-leward course in 15-17 kt winds.

Going into todays race the top four positions in this regatta were very close. These teams continued to show their talent and finished in the top 4 today. Behind Team Gonzalez, the USA team of David Starck sailing with his wife Jody and Ian Jones took a 3 today and are second overall with 14 total points. The Brazilian Team of Claus Biekarck, Gunner Ficker and Marcelo Batista da Silva continue to sail consistently and finished 4th to have a combined total of 15 points. Thomas Sumner, Felipe Brito and Fillipe Gil also from Brazil followed up their two bullets yesterday with a 2nd in todays race, condencing the points total even further. They are right on the heals of Stack and Biekarck in 4th place overall with 16 points.

The next three teams are all within one point of each other in the overall standings. In 5th Place, the Chilian Team of Cristobal Perez, Philipp Goyeneche and Ignacio Perez have 25 points. The USA Team of Will Brown, John Faus and Matty Schon are in 6th with 26 points and Felipe Robles, Pablo Lorca and Andres Guevara from Chile are in 7th place with 27 points.

Racing continues tomorrow with an 11 am warning, two races scheduled. Follow live text coverage of racing at www.lightningclass.org

RESULTS AFTER DAY 4

[mpowlison]

Buzios, Brazil - Thursday, July 28, 2011 - Day 5

The Chilean Team of Tito Gonzalez sailing with his son, Diego and Cristian Herman mathematically clinched the 2011 International Lightning Class Association World Championship today with two bullets. Racing concludes tomorrow with 1 final race to conclude the 9 race series. The Gonzalez team won the first race today by at least 45 seconds over the Brazilian Teams of Claus Biekarck, Gunner Ficker and Marcelo Batista da Silva in second and Thomas Sumner, Felipe Brito and Fillipe Gil in third. By having breathing room, the The Chilean Team reported that they were able to take it easy up the last beat and conserved energy for the next race. Winds were from the East at 14-16 kts. The Team also credits today's success to great starts. With their consistent scores they said they were able to risk a bit more today and really push the line.

The second race brought winds of 16-18kts with gusts to 20kts. Gonzalez and crew battled the entire race with Team Stark. Starck didn't give Gonzalez any breathing room. They were neck and neck the entire race. Gonzalez rounded the windward mark in first, Starck gybed inside to take the advantage and pass them downwind. Team Gonzalez would then take the lead on the upwind legs and eventually on the line at the finish.

With Team Gonzalez in first, the race tomorrow is for runner-up. Team Biekarck currently sits in 2nd place overall with 22 points, Team Starck is in 3rd with 24 points and Team Sumner is in 4th with 25 points.

In 5th and 6th place overall are the Chilean Teams of Cristobal Perez, Philipp Goyeneche and Ignacio Perez with 34 points and Felipe Robles, Pablo Lorca and Andres Guevara with 35 points. Another close battle that will continue tomorrow.

The past two weeks, teams from 8 different counties have been competing in the ILCA South American, International Masters' and World Championships. Many of the teams have chosen to bear a small pink sticker on their transom. This gesture is in remembrance of Olivia Constants, a talented young lady who lost her life a few weeks ago in a tragic sailing accident in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. It also represents the support to the Constants Family and the Severn Sailing Association. The Constants Family is an integral part of the Dixie District, Fleet 329 Lightning Family. This is yet another reminder that the Lightning Class is more than just great competition, it is a group of wonderful friends who in the time of need show their support to fellow Class members.

Racing concludes tomorrow with an 11 am warning, one race scheduled. Follow live text coverage of racing at www.lightningclass.org

RESULTS AFTER DAY 5