Outteridge and Jensen move into the lead at 49er Worlds

[Source: 49er World Championship] The first day of racing in the finals provided fickle windsand changing conditions which seemed to suit current 49er World Champion Nathan Outteridge with crew Iain Jensen just fine. Only 2 teams were able to post 3 consistent races in the single digits and the 2-1-4 posted by the Aussies launched them into first overall.

Pietro and Gianfranco Sibello of Italy were the only other pair to keep them low which moved them into 2nd while the qualifying leaders of Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes and John Pink and Rick Peacock struggled a bit dropping both into 4th and 3rd respectively. Both Pink/Peacock and Morrison/Rhodes won a race each, but they were countered by deeper finishes.

Racing was delayed while the breeze couldn’t fill andremained in the 8 knot range. At times it completely died onshore, but the Race Committee was able to find enough tohold 3 races for the Gold.

The Silver and Bronze fleets each were able to have 1 race apiece although the Bronze fleet had their first race abandoned due to shifting winds and completed race 2 in the morning. The lone Silver race was won by Bernadro Freitas and Francisco Andrade of Portugal who had broken their mast earlier in theweek. Peter Burling and Blair Tukeof New Zealand are the current leaders of the Silver fleet.

Eight races are scheduled for the final series with the medal race to take place on Sunday after morning races.

Highlights from the 4th day of the 49er Worlds. Lago di Garda, 17 July 2009. Video copyright 49er Worlds