Day two of the Hempel World Cup series final at Marseille delivered gusts well in excess of 30 knots across the five racing areas and only a small number of races were completed before the Principal Race Officer sent competitors back to the shore at 15:00 local time.

The 470s managed one race in a breeze that started at 20 knots and quickly rose to 25 knots with stronger gusts. The Finns, where Australia is well represented, never heard a starting signal.

470 men & women

Men's 470 pair Mat Belcher and Will Ryan have historically thrived in strong winds and that was no different on Wednesday June 5. They took the sole Men's 470 race win and hold second overall.

Coach Victor Kovalenko reported overnight on race 3: “Aus11 had a good start, left side advantage again. Top mark in lead then first downwind in a gust of 32 knots and steep waves Mathew and William capsized with spinnaker. Bottom mark they were third and by the top mark they were in the lead again in gusty 30+ knots. Mathew said it was first race in his life he sailed downwind without spinnaker, but they were happy to win this tough race. Three races tomorrow.”

Nia Jerwood said of the single race with crew Monique de Vries: “We had a great start with good speed and were in the front pack approaching the top mark. Three-quarters of the way up the beat we were hit by a bullet and with both main and jib flapping we were blown over. Rounding the top mark well behind the fleet we decided we had to strap in and hoist the kite for both of the downwinds. Staying up right with the kite hoisted we passed a few boats to finish the race in 19th.”

Finn

After an “awesome blast totally sending it!” to the course area in 25-30 knots, the Finns were turned around and sent back to shore said Jock Calvert. “We had to then bash back upwind back to base where we then waited on shore for a bit, but racing got cancelled for the day.”

Thursday's forecast is looking more favourable. For those who lost races, minus the RS:X, an additional race has been added to the schedule in an attempt to catch up on those lost.

Hempel World Cup Series champions will be crowned in 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17, Open Kiteboarding and Men's and Women's RS:X fleets on Saturday 8 June. On the Sunday 9 further champions will be crowned in the Men's and Women's 470, Laser, Laser Radial and Finn.

The World Cup Series began in Enoshima, Japan, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic venue, in September 2018 before moving to Miami, USA in January this year and, most recently, Genoa, Italy in April.

Website http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/regattas/marseille_2019.php

Live tracking https://wcs2019-marseille.sapsailing.com/gwt/Home.html?#/event/:eventId=ba606057-ced3-444d-9425-fd89ae36ca18

Medal Races on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June will be live streamed on World Sailing’s YouTube Channel http://youtube.com/worldsailingtv

470 Men’s (29 boats)
2nd Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (3), 2, 1 = 3 points

470 Women’s (24 boats)
18th Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries 13, (21), 19 = 32 points

Finn Men’s (12 Boats)
3rd Jake Lilley 3, 8 = 11 points
9th Jock Calvert 5, 10 = 15 points
12th Lachlan Gilham 12, 11 = 23 points