Though there was still one race to be sailed today, Andrew Campbell, 18, of San Diego, slept easy last night knowing he had won the gold medal in the Laser fleet at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships, hosted by Lunenberg YC, in Nova Scotia. The U.S. team remained in second place overall with a total score of 275 points so far, two points ahead of France.
Day 5 of this prestigious event brought shifty conditions in which Campbell rose to the challenge, winning the first race of the day. A sixth place finish in the next race, and a 12th in the last race, which was thrown out of his score, made for an overall score of 29 points. Even with a DNC in tomorrows race, Campbells score will not be above that of his closest competitor, Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic, of Croatia, who is currently in second place with 42 points.
Campbell elected not to sail in the remaining race today. He was invited by Nova Scotias Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman to watch his competitors race from aboard her boat. Freeman is the Queens representative in Nova Scotia, as Canada recognizes the Queen of England as the head of state.
“Im very happy to represent my team, my country, my town, and my yacht club in this way,” said Campbell. “I hope the rest of the U.S. team meets their goals tomorrow.”
Campbell said he sailed conservatively Thursday to avoid troublesome situations in the shifty conditions. Other sailors encountered difficulty–Tobias Schadewaldt, of Germany, and Michael Bullot, of Brazil, were penalized for early starts in the second race of the day.
Paige Railey, 15, of Clearwater, Fla., finished a disapointing 16th in the final race of the day, for an overall score of 34 points. She is now in third place, positioned for a bronze medal.
“Bronze is a terrific award for a girl of her age and experience,” said U.S. team coach Richard Feeny. Canadian Jennifer Spaulding has moved up from second into first place with 27 points. Swedens Karin Soderstorm is in line for the silver medal with 32 points.
On the 29er course, Molly Carapiet, 18, and Mallory McCollum, 16, of Belvedere, Calif., moved up to fourth place today, placing fourth and third in the two races sailed for an overall score of 34 points so far.
“If we could have just one race with lots of wind, I’d be really psyched,” said Carapiet. Carapiet and McCollum were in position to finish second in the second race when they overstood the windward mark slightly, allowing another boat to sail past. Great Britain’s Pippa Wilson and Jenny Marks are leading the Girl’s 29er class with 17 points.
Alex Bernal and Tedd White are two points away from a bronze medal, with a total score of 34 points. They placed fifth and third in todays races. “We started in first in the first race,” said Alex, “And we got passed downwind for no other reason that I could think of than because were so heavy compared to the other teams. Thats going to happen until conditions allow Tedd to use the trap.”
Philip Muller, 16, of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Erika Kofkin, 16, of Cocoa Beach, Fla., remained in 16th place and 12th place in the boys and girls Mistral fleets, respectively.
