Steady start to Santander Sailing World Championships 

Laser and Laser Radial events kick off the ten day Worlds regatta

Britain’s Laser and Laser Radial sailors saw a steady start to their ISAF Sailing World Championship campaigns in Santander, Spain, on Friday (12 September).

After a foggy start to this first competition day and a short delay to the 1300 start time while the wind built, the men’s and women’s single-handed classes got their series’ underway with the British Sailing Team’s three-time World Championship medallist Nick Thompson claiming victory in the opening race of the regatta.

But it was the newly-crowned u21 World and European Champion Lorenzo Chiavarini who ended the first day as the top British sailor in the men’s event, claiming a second and a 14th to sit 12th overall after the first two races.  



It was a pleasing start for the 20-year-old Argyll sailor, who only learned of his last-minute entry to these Championships two weeks ago. “I came here with an open mind and just to enjoy, and that’s what I’ve done so far,” said Chiavarini of his initial World Championship experience.

“My speed was really good today and that got me out of some difficult situations especially in the second race.  I’m very pleased with how it’s going at the moment and how it’s panned out. “Tomorrow is the last day of qualifying, so I need another two good races to hopefully enjoy some gold fleet racing.  That would be a really big bonus for me this year.”

The world number two Thompson couldn’t quite match his perfect start in the second race of the day, finishing 18th in race two to end the day in 21st overall.  

“In race two I got a good start again at the other end of the line, but didn’t quite get the wind right.  I actually went back to the right again and I was out on the left.  That didn’t work out too well, but I managed to get back to just inside the top 20 which is just about OK.  Not what I wanted but not the end of the world.”

In the Laser Radial event, Chloe Martin enjoyed the lighter breeze to open her World Championship campaign with a 10,6 to sit her in eighth place after the opening day. “I think it was quite a good average day,” the Lymington sailor surmised. “It was very tricky out there, with some weird tide lines going on so I wasn’t quite sure what the plan was for the first beat, and it was then quite hard to make gains for the rest of the race, but I’m quite happy.”

“I’m looking forward to going out and doing some more racing.  It’s an amazing opportunity to have so many boats in the fleet that are all pretty good quality. 

“It would be good to get into gold fleet racing and have a little fight there.  I’m really excited for what’s to come.”

London Olympian Alison Young had a steady opening day with 13,12 from her two races.

As well as the continuation of the opening series for the Laser and Laser Radial classes, Saturday (13 September) also sees the start of competition for the RS:X men’s and women’s windsurfing events, where Nick Dempsey will attempt to defend his world title, and Bryony Shaw will be aiming for her second straight World Championship podium finish.  Racing is scheduled to start from 1300 (local).

Competition in Santander sees a staggered schedule across the ten classes:
12-18 September: Laser and Laser Radial
13-19 September: RS:X Men and RS:X Women
14-20 September: 470 Men and 470 Women
15-21 September: 49er, 49erFX, Finn and Nacra 17

For a full list of British competitors and all the latest from the ISAF Sailing World Championships, stay with us at www.britishsailingteam.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @BritishSailing!  

Click here for the British Sailing Team’s video channel from the Santander Worlds.