The new format experienced in the Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup with the emphasis put on the last Medal Race created the expected thrill and drama in the Delta Lloyd regatta in Medemblik, the Netherlands.
Five of the early leaders lost top place during the Medal Race which opened the field for the top six boats.
After winning seven races and dominating the RS:X fleet all week, Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) suffered from a shift at the start of the Medal Race to fall behind the fleet and off the podium.
Pawel Tarnowski (POL) won the Men's RS:X event after a second place in the Medal Race.
"I am very happy with my first victory in a RS:X senior event," said the Polish youngster
. "This is my first season on the senior circuit and hope I can continue doing well at the European next summer. I won over great sailors here, Worlds champions, Gold medallists, this new system allows for all six sailors in the final to win and for me it worked well."
Second is Byron Kokalanis from Greece and third place goes to Julien Bontemps (FRA).
After consistent sailing all week, Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) won the Women's RS:X.
"I came in the Medal race with a first place," said Tartaglini.
"For the Medal Race we had a nice breeze, it was also tricky as close to shore with gusts and shifts. I manage to get a good start and lead for most of the race. In the end a third place was enough for me to keep the lead and win the title!"
Mayaan Davidovich (ISR) takes the silver medal after finishing second in the Medal Race. A victory in the Medal race for Blanca Manchon (ESP) brings her from sixth to third.
Further in the day, the Laser Medal Race continued to provide the drama expected from the new format. Early leader and World #1 Tom Burton (AUS) lost his lead after a difficult Medal Race. This is the second time in a row that the Australian has lost a regatta with this format, the first being in Garda.
Taking the Medal Race was what needed Ruger van Schaardenburg to keep the title he had won last year in Medemblik.
"I am very happy with my results and with the format. The medal race keeps opportunities opened for the top six, and for me it was a great opportunity."
Young Australian Matthew Wearn placed second in the Medal Race and takes silver while Andy Maloney (NZL) goes down to third overall.
It was an intense Medal Race for the top three in the Laser radial. Annalise Murphy (IRL) came into the Medal Race third overall and took the race and the victory on equal points with overnight leaders Alison Young, and Marit Bouwmeester (NED).
The Irish sailor said,
"I knew I had to give it all going into the Medal race, Alison and Marit are very strong and like me are good in these conditions. Of course I am happy with my victory but I don't think this format is very fair on the sailors. It is good to experiment but this is not the way to go."
Marit Bouwmeester (NED) keeps her second place while Alison Young (GBR) loses top place and has to settle for bronze.
Mark Andrews won his first major Finn event after a heart breaking Medal Race where the overall lead changed hands several times. "
It was down to the wire! I was able to make up some places using the guts and in the end it turned my way. It was very closed and I am very happy to have won this event."
Pieter-Jan Postma lost top place but is secured silver.
"I was not aggressive enough in this race," said Postma.
"I should have followed my own line without worrying about the other sailors."
Andrew Mills (GBR) won the Medal Race with an impressive lead and narrowly took the final place on the podium.
London 2012 Gold Medallists won the Men's and Women's 470 gold.
Early regatta leaders Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) won the Medal Race to take their second event in the season after winning the Garda Eurosaf event.
"We had a big rest after London and only raced at home for Sail Auckland. We are happy with the way we are going but there are lots of new faces and we will know where we are at when we race at the Worlds in July."
Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) and Tina Mrak with Veronika Macarol (SLO) take silver and bronze.
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) have added the 2013 Delta Lloyd Regatta to their undefeated regatta series,
"It was tricky today with lots of pressure and three laps. We are really concentrating on our performance and staying focussed and it is working well for us."
The New Zealanders Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox won the Medal Race and take second place in front of Croatian team of Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic.
The Delta Lloyd regatta provided drama until the last moment. Nacra fleet favourites, Mandy Mulder and Thijs Visser (NED) had ended the opening series with an impressive lead. The Medal Race seemed to go according to plan until a capsize on the last leg ended the Dutch podium chances.
"We have raced really well all week and know we are the best out there. Our capsize was unfortunate and still a "mystery"!
We need to work out on what happened, so we can learn from it," explains Mulder.
The situation suited the French teams who have been fighting for top place with the Dutch since the start of the season. They take the top two places with Moana Vaireaux and Manon Audinet winning Gold and Audrey Augereau and Mathieu Vandame the Silver medal. Renee Groeneveld and Karel Begeman (NED) are in third position.
"We had a great week with lots of wind. We are tired but happy to win. It is a pity for Mandy and Thijs, they have dominated all week and deserve a better place than that! The Nacra is a great boat, very fast and when we will have a carbon mast it will be the fastest boat around," explained Vaireaux.
The Skiff titles were decided the day prior with three Medal Races for the top eight.
The 49erFX completed two Medal Races on the three scheduled. With two wins, it is the German team of Tina Lutz and Susan Beucke who take the title.
"We had two really good races in tricky conditions so we are really proud! This is our first win in the 49ers! It has been a hard week with lots of problems and strong wind and with four races a day it was tough. Our next goal is the European in Denmark, so we will go and train in Kiel for a month and then try to sail good...sailing easy, keep it simple."
Early leaders, Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Olsen (DEN) take bronze. Silver goes to German team of Victoria Jurczok who started the Medal Race stage carrying six points from their opening series placing.
The Danish team of Jonas Warrer and Peter Lang took the title in the 49er after placing 1-2-3 in the Medal Races sailed in building breeze.
"It was a closed call, very tight in points and great to win. Now we go home to Aarhus where we will train for the Europeans and hope to win."
David Evans and Ed Powys (GBR) won the last two races to change their bronze to silver. Julien D'Ortoli and Noe Delpech (FRA) settle for Bronze
The Paralympic classes sailed two more races today. Megan Pascoe won the 2.4 title after winning gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami and placing in the top three in Palma and Hyères
. "It was a tough regatta with lots of boats and great competition. It is good and more fun to race in a big fleet in the 2.4. I am used to sail in a shifty place so today it really helps. I could position well and take advantage of all the shifts." Helena Lucas (GBR) takes Silver and Barend Kol (NED) the Bronze.
The French team of Bruno Jourdren finishes the week on a high. They have defended their Delta Lloyd regatta title on the last day after scoring top two results. The fleet was small but of high quality with the top 5 in the London Paralympics competing.
The Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup heads now to Great Britain for the Sail for Gold regatta.
Results