The Laser Standard and Radial European Championship 2016 on Gran Canaria ended yesterday with the last races sailed in a 8-12 kn breeze.
The Laser Radial women podium remained unchanged with Marit Bouwmeester NED defending her lead against Josefin Olsson SWE who kept in touch with the leader and finished as Silver medalist with a small 2 points' backlog. Tuula Tenkanen FIN had a smashing start yesterday with the ranks 1 and 3 and was on the way to fight seriously for the title. But the last race of the day went wrong and she remained on the Bronze position with a 14 points deficit. Gintare Scheidt-Volungeviciute LTU on 4th was 10 points behind a medal. Happy end for Paige Railey USA with the rank 28/5/1 climbing on rank 14 overall. Isabella Bertold CAN is 32nd.
Leader change though in the Lasers Standard where Jesper Stalheim SWE earned the title with a 13 points' advantage on Jeemin Ha KOR, Bronze (respectively Silver in the European Championship ranking went to Kristian Ruth NOR, Giovanni Coccoluto ITA on 4th grasps the European's Bronze. Charlie Buckingham USA started well with a 3rd race rank, but with the 26th and 12th place afterwards, only a minor improvement of the overall rankings on 16th was possible.
In the Lasers Radial men, the clear winner was Marcin Rudawski POL 18 points ahead of Ismael Iess ESP. Jonasz Stelmaczyk POL took Bronze. A good day for Henry Marshall USA as well - ranks 15/2/6 - bringing him on the 5th place overall.
All ranking lists and the official final report.

The Final Series races at the Laser European Championship were sailed in an intial light wind yesterday, and only late in the afternoon, the fresh breeze of up to 20 kn was back. These new light conditions changed the overall rankings considerably.
The leader in the Lasers Standard Nick Thompson GBR dived on rank 15 with the day ranks 29/30/30 and a Medal is out of reach in today's last races. Herrmann Tomasgaard NOR is new on rank 1, but his advantage on Jesper Stalheim SWE is only 2 points. With a 6, respectively 9 points' backlog, Julio Alsogaray ARG and Francesco Marrai ITA protected their chances for the podium. Bad day also for Charlie Buckingham USA (22/50/35) descending on rank 18 overall.
The Medal contenders in the Laser Radial women are known before the last races today. Marit Bouwmeester NED and Josefin Olsson SWE 2 points behind will fight for the title. Lijia Xu CHN follows with a 9 points' deficit on a safe 3rd place, as the 4th Gintare Scheidt-Volungeviciute LTU has already a 17 points' gap on the Bonze Medal. Paige Railey USA had also a miserable day (37/31/39) and is now down on 27th overall.
The title in the Laser Radial men will go to Marcin Rudawski POL who added 2 more bullets on his result sheet yesterday and has now a 23 points lead on Ismael Iess ESP. Henry Marshall USA is good 8th (18/5/11).
All ranking lists and the daily news.

The fresh breeze of the previous days was gone yesterday, and the very light wind disappeared completely during the first race of the day that had to be abandoned at half distance. No changes therefore in the interim's rankings with 6 Qualification Series races.
Nick Thompson GBR leads in the Lasers Standard, and Charlie Buckingham USA is 13th. Marit Bouwmeester NED and Josefin Olsson SWE share the first place in the Laser Radial women with Paige Railey USA on 11th. In the Radial men is Marcin Rudawski POL on top, and Henry Marshall USA on 6th.
Today, 3 races are on the program. All ranking lists and the event website.

Less wind as expected and very catchy off Las Palmas for the conclusion of the Qualification Series. Three races were completed in a 6 to 16 kn breeze and a big swell.
Nick Thompson GBR could not repeat the impressive dominance of day one and had to accept a preliminary start disqualification in addition. Nevertheless, he defended the first place in the Lasers Standard. Julio Alsogaray ARG, yesterday best of the day with the ranks 1/1/2 and the tied Philipp Buhl GER are only 2 points behind Thompson. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA follows on the 4th place. Charlie Buckingham USA is 13th. Evert McLaughlin CAN lost 6 places and - with rank 73 -will continue the Championship in the Silverfleet.
Shared lead in the Lasers Radial Frauen with Marit Bouwmeester NED and Josefin Olsson SWE, 5 points ahead of Tuula Tenkanen FIN on 3rd. The Olympic Champion Lijia Xu CHN is on the 4th place. Paige Railey USA on 9th and Isabelle Bertold CAN as 47th are qualified for the Goldfleet.
Marcin Rudawski POL dominates the Laser Radial men's fleet with the ranks 1 and 2 yesterday and has now a 13 points' advantage on Alejandro Bethancourt ESP and Ismael Iess ESP. Henri Marshall USA is down on 9th.
All results and the daily news. Racing continues today with two Final Series races in Gold- and Silverfleets per class.

The breeze was slighly less than on the too-windy opening day without races, but the wind remained fresh between 20 and 25 kn off Las Palmas/Gran Canaria ESP. All three classes completed three races each.
Nick Thompson GBR won all three heats of his Group in the Lasers Standard and took the lead 3 points ahead of Pavlos Kontides CYP. Kristian Ruth NOR and Philipp Buhl GER followed on the ranks 3 and 4. Charlie Buckingham USA is 13th, Evert McLaughlin CAN 66th. 125 participants are on the entry list, the highly competitive Croatian team is missing. In the Lasers Radial women, Marit Bouwmeester NED and Josefin Olsson SWE were the winners of all three races of their Groups. Tuula Tenkanen FIN and Lijia Xu CHN follow on the ranks 3 and 4 at equal points. Paige Railey USA is 11th, Isabelle Bertold CAN 31st among the 97 participants. Three race wins also for Marcin Rudawski POL in the Laser Radial men, ahead of Henry Marshall USA and Jonasz Stelmaszyk POL.
All ranking lists and the daily news.

Stormy winds exceeding 30 kn inhibited racing at the Laser Standard and Radial European Championships in Las Palmas / Gran Canaria ESP. According to the forecast, a 20-25 kn breeze shall prevail today allowing to start to the first races. The daily news. 267 participants from 40 nations, including USA and CAN sailors are on the entry lists to be opened on the event website,

The European Championships of the two Olympic Laser Classes as well as the non-Olympic Laser Radial men begins today in las Palmas ESP on the Gran Canaria island. In the past days and during the Practice Race yesterday, a fresh breeze and big waves from the Atlantic Sea prevailed.
A top quality Laser Standard fleet with 129 participants from 39 nations and 5 continents will be on the starting line today, including USA and CAN athletes. The same is true for the Lasers Radial women with 99 participants from 34 nations and 5 continents, including Canada. The Laser Radial men's fleet consists of 42 participants from 16 nations.
The official preview and the weather forecast announcing a fresh breeze until at least Tuesday.