Experience takes control as the waves rise and the medal contenders emerge in Cagliari on day five of the 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 World Championships…
Nacra 17: Seven teams in medal contention
- Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei (ITA 98): Hold the lead with 3-10-2.
- John Gimson and Anna Burnet (GBR 21): One point back, keeping pressure on.
- Bryn Liddell and Rhiannan Brown (AUS 5): Best daily score with 2-2-7.
A seven-boat breakaway is beginning to define the outcome of the Nacra 17 championship. Local favorites Ugolini and Giubilei – three-time junior world champs chasing their first senior crown – did just enough to cling to the lead. Britain’s Gimson and Burnet, the Tokyo silver medallists, are breathing down their necks just one point behind.
Argentina’s Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco flashed some Latin brilliance with a 1-7-5, while Bryn Liddell and Rhiannon Brown of Australia recorded the fleet-low daily total with 2-2-7.
The top seven boats have now separated from the pack; any of them could claim gold, silver, or bronze on Sunday.
49er: Warrer on the war path, Lambriex lurks
- Jonas Warrer and Mathias Lehm Sletten (DEN 79): 2-2-1 day vaults them into third overall.
- Bart Lambriex van Aanholt and Floris van de Werken (NED 2): The three-time world champs post 10-4-3 to stay in contention.
- Diego Botín and Florian Trittel (ESP 74): Olympic Champions hold the lead heading into the medal series.
- Seven boats vie for remaining two places in the 4-boat final, Spanish and Dutch locked into the top two places.
At 46, Jonas Warrer looked more like a man chasing his first title than one reliving past glories. With new crew Mathias Lehm Sletten, the Danish veteran tore through the fleet in the heavy breeze, the 2008 Olympic Champion notching up 2-2-1 to soar into the podium mix.
Meanwhile, the Dutch juggernaut Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken quietly kept their title defence alive. Their 10-4-3 steadied the ship after a long and at times difficult week, while Spain’s Botín and Trittel remain just out of reach.
The message from the old guard: it’s not only speed that wins championships, it’s stamina too.
49erFX: Grael and Kunze take their turn to boss the fleet
- Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA 4): 2-4-5, the lowest score of the day in the FX fleet.
- Paula Barceló and María Cantero (ESP 76): 7-1-2 moves them within two points of the lead.
- Vilma Bobeck and Ebba Berntsson (SWE 77): Still on top, medal already secured.
The reigning queens of Olympic sailing are back in the mix. After a turbulent week, Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze – two Olympic golds, one SailGP résumé – reminded everyone they can still flip the switch. The Brazilian 2-4-5 was the best daily score, vaulting them up to seventh and breathing life into their regatta.
Spain’s Paula Barceló and María Cantero delivered the biggest move of the day with a 7-1-2, surging into second overall. Barceló, long-time crew turned helm, is steering her first major regatta, and proving to be a fast learner.
Out front, Vilma Bobeck and Ebba Berntsson, the defending world champion helm with a new crew, stumbled in the lighter breeze but remain assured of a medal. They weren’t even planning to attend this event three weeks ago. Now, they’re one day away from claiming an unexpected world title.
One Day, Three Titles – Medal Series will decide it all
Each fleet will complete a medal series consisting of 2 races:
- The first race in each fleet has 20 boats, and is a normal race except it will be umpired on the water and non-discardable. The scoring is normal with the points added to the previous tally of points.
- The second race is only for the top 4. Whoever wins the race wins the regatta. Then the other teams slot into 2nd, 3rd, and 4th based on what order they were in prior to the top four race.
