The Laser Worlds 2017 in Split, Croatia have finished the qualifying series and moved on to the final stages, with the almost 150 sailors racing in Gold and Silver fleet.
All of the SSL skippers present at the Worlds are among the best ones, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA), leading after the first day in the Gold fleet, Tom Burton (AUS), Gold medalist in Rio and Finalist at the SSL Finals 2016 with Andrew Palfrey (AUS), is third, Pavlos Kontides (CYP) who had a brilliant start of the event with four wins, yesterday and today is slowing down probably due to very strong wind, and today tiptoed on a 26 that cannot discard and is keeping him on the seventh spot. Nick Thompson (GBR) is 9th and home hero Tonci Stipanovic (CRO), Silver medalist in Rio and two times SSL Finalist, is tenth.
Kiwi Sam Meech, Bronze in Rio and SSL Finalist last year with Craig Monk (NZL) is just outside the Medal Race, 13th with five points to top 10. Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini (GBR), SSL Finalist in 2015, is 28th after a brilliant start and Charlie Buckingham (USA) – we met him at Bacardi Cup in Miami, last March – is 26th.
Tomorrow is the last day for anyone to try and make top 10 to enter the Medal Race that will be sailed on Tuesday.
SSL Press Officer since 2015