Nick Dempsey’s consistent form continues in the RS:X men’s windsurfing event at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma. He’s taken the overall lead by seven points over Israel’s Shahar Zubari with scores of 2,3 on the water today, while development squad sailor Elliot Carney picked up two top ten results to place him in tenth overall. “I’m pretty pleased with how it’s all going,” the 30-year-old Dempsey admitted. “I’ve spent the whole winter away so this is pretty much the first big event of the season – certainly the first big event of the European season.
“You often turn up here and you don’t really know just how well that winter’s gone. You’re probably at your most nervous at the beginning of the year and it’s quite a relief to see that I am on the pace and I’m sailing well.”
“It’s not such a big outcome regatta,” Dempsey continued. “it’s not all about the result. It’s more about testing myself in the different conditions here and so far that’s all going really well.”
Beijing Bronze medallist, Shahar Zubari (ISR) got to second while Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) drops to third after suffering in today’s conditions. Today’s races went to Mashia Nimrod (ISR) and 2008 Olympic champion, Tom Ashley (NZL).
The RS:X women fleet has a new leader with Marina Alabau (ESP) racing consistently to a fourth and a second placing: “I am happy with my day, the wind was difficult, light and shifty. I stayed fourth during the whole first race and started the second in the same position but was able to catch up two places and pass Blanca before the finish.”
Alessandra Sensini (ITA) didn’t perform in the lighter conditions adding twenty points to her score today. She is now in second position overall. Charline Picon (FRA) who had suffered from equipment failure in Monday’s windy races, was undefeated today with two bullets. She seats in 12th position overall but could come up in the front when the discard comes in.
Izzy Hamilton is the leading British female windsurfer in 14th overall. Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Shaw hit back from a disappointing first day beset with kit breakages with a third in her opening race of the day but is in 18th overall
Racing at the Princess Sofia Trophy will start on Monday 4 April and continue through until Saturday 9 April.
For the latest news and information, visit www.skandiateamgbr.com or follow the British sailing team on Twitter (@skandiateamgbr) for race updates during the regatta.
