Sarah Steyaert has won the 2008 Women’s Laser Radial World Championship in New Zealand, a great result for the French sailor whose previous best was 6th in 2006. The world title looked to be heading China’s way until series leader Lijia Xu was disqualified from the final race when an umpire gave her an on-the-water penalty for excessive body movement.
Steyaert seized her chance. “I saw her take the flag, and I knew that I had to finish in the top 14 - I knew the points. And I did it, so I knew I had the World Championship.” Xu, who won the Worlds in 2006, had to be satisfied with the silver medal, still a long way ahead of the rest despite that last-race disqualification.
If Xu was disappointed with silver, Skandia Team GBR’s Andrea Brewster was delighted with bronze. This regatta was part of an ongoing trials event for four sailors vying for British selection. At the first trials event at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta in January, Brewster finished 16th and behind her three rivals – a position which she believes worked to her advantage at the Worlds.
“It’s been a tough week, but I came here with no pressure really on me,” said Brewster. “I felt like I was really calm and just tried to sail like I would do at any other event.”
The final day spelt disappointment for Belgium’s Evi Van Acker who had a shot at the title at the outset of racing today, lying second overall. In her worst day yet Van Acker recorded a 47th and 20th slipping out of the medals and back to ninth overall.
A good deal of the usual suspects failed to shine in Takapuna. The USA’s Anna Tunnicliffe won two heats, but lacked the consistency required for a podium place. She finished 6th. NZL’s Jo Aleh was top local sailor in 14th and Finland’s Sari Multala had great races at both ends of the championship, but not much in between. Her yo-yo performance left her in 20th overall.
So the results of this Worlds don’t leave us much the wiser as to who will win gold in Qingdao this summer. Steyaert has certainly put herself in the frame, but Lijia Xu’s near miss in Takapuna will have taught her a painful kinetics lesson that she will be careful to avoid at the Olympics.
Posted in Laser Radial, Sarah Steyaert | Tags: Lijia Xu, Sarah Steyaert, Women's Laser Radial World Championship
