On the final day of the London 2012 Test Series Peter O’Leary and David Burrows were pipped for bronze by Mateusz Kusznierewicz and crew Dominik Zycki of Poland. The Polish and Irish boats had been fighting it out at very close quarters for the series and the Poles had been seen as being very dangerous. After their collision with Argentina they were awarded redress and received average points for races 7 and 8 of 4.5 for each race and this brought them back to just behind O’Leary and Burrows by two places going into Race 9 and after Race 10 they were on equal points going into today’s final race.
Today turned out to be a light wind day and with the race counting for double points the Polish boat got the better of the Irish and finished in third place overall in the series. The final result is 1. Brazil 25pts, 2. GBR 45pts, 3. Poland 55pts and 4. Ireland 61pts.
The next meeting of the Star Class sailors will be at the International Star Class Europeans in Dublin with racing from 4th to 9th September. This event will not count for any Olympic qualification but will certainly provide another round of competition for the class sailors that will attend. O’Leary and Burrows are on the entry list for this event.
The ISAF World Championships in Perth in December 2011 is the next major event when the nations will have to qualify for London 2012. The host country, Britain, has already qualified with an automatic entry and at Perth another eleven countries will qualify. The remaining four places will be filled at the Star Worlds to be held in Hyeres, France, May 2012, final date to be given later, and this will be the total of the 16 available places for the International Star Class at the Olympic Regatta in London 2012. O’Leary and Burrows will be concentrating hard on qualifying Ireland at Perth in December 2011.
August 12th,2011
Weymouth and Portland Olympic Regatta 2011. London Prepares Test Series
The Dynamic Irish Olympic Duo of O’Leary and Burrows had two mid fleet finishes today (Fri) and were able to discard an eleventh place finish to end on 41 points, Also finishing on 41 points and in third place were Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki of Poland, followed by Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson GBR on 43 points with the wily Italian pairing of Diego Negri and Enrico Voltolin having fought their way up to fifth place on 50 points and Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk of NZL on 60 points in sixth place. As foretold at the beginning of the series there is no stopping these no holds barred top world class sailors in this the toughest class of all from rising like the cream to the top no matter what mishaps may befall them on the way. What a tremendous campaign our Irish pairing has put in to be mixing it at the very top.
Tomorrow will see the Medal race for the Star Class with the top ten finishers from the ten race series, with one discard, entering the fray. The race will count for double points added to the series score already in place. Olympic Gold Medalist Robert Scheidt and crew Bruno Prada on 17 points cannot be beaten but for the other nine contenders it will be daggers drawn for the silver and Bronze position.
Meanwhile Annalise Murphy of Dublin who sailed the Laser Radial Medal Race today (Fri) finished the in 49 boat fleet in a very creditable sixth place.
2.30 p.m. Update 12.08.2011 It now appears that the Polish team won their appeal and were granted RDG in each of Races 7 and 8 of 4.5 points each. The running order of the first three placings is now back as it was. Brazil 16 points, Ireland 31, Poland 33 and with GBR on 38. O’Leary and Burrows discarded their 11th placing from Race 9. Race 10 is under way and we will bring you the results of this and the 10 placings for tomorrow’s Medal Race as soon as results are to hand.
am 12.08.2011
After a day of total frustration and drama at the London Test Series 2012 Weymouth Pre-Olympic Regatta yesterday (Thurs), Peter O’Leary and David Burrows continued to consolidate their outstanding results run with a second and sixth and maintained their second overall placing. Their performance and campaign to date continues to display magnificent consistency and controlled discipline.
Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada, Brazil, continue to lead on 12 points, with Ireland in second place on 25 points, with very solid scores of 6 5 4 4 1 3 2 6 and current Olympic Gold Medalists Percy and Simpson GBR on 36 points. As pointed out previously, the top “names” in the Star fleet can never be underestimated and the places following up to 10th are all now occupied by the cream of the fleet closely bunched on points from 41 to 56 and in this class nothing is ever finished until the fat lady sings. However, it does appear at this stage Scheidt and Prada seem to be unstoppable barring disaster.
The day was not without its moments. Indeed the day contained many long hours not to mind moments as the Star Fleet waited and waited and finally at 17.55hrs racing was able to get under way for Races 7 and 8. The Polish crew who had been doing so well was unfortunately involved in a collision with Argentina in Race 7. It would now appear Argentina have won the protest and the Poles have dropped to 51 points. This protest held up matters hence the lack of results last evening.
Racing is due to get underway for the Stars at 12.10 pm today (Fri) with Races 9 and 10 and reports from the race area this morning indicate good breeze though somewhat less than earlier in the week.
August 10th, 2011
With SSW winds of 22 to 27 knots and gusting 30 knots at Portland Harbour, there was no racing for the Star Class on today. Races 7 and 8 of the series are scheduled for tomorrow (Thurs). However, with winds forecast to be the same tomorrow it will be a case of wait and see.
Standings at the moment: Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada of Brazil lead followed by Peter O’Leary and David Burrows Ireland second and in third place Mateusz Kuszniereincz and Dominic Zycki Poland.
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