The story in the RS:X Women's fleet was one of what might have been. Blanca Manchon [ESP] who dominated the racing all week faltered at the last fence and put in a poor medal race in Weymouth on Saturday. Don't get me wrong. You have to be in it to win as I said in an earlier report and she was certainly in it to win.
The problem was it just did not work out as planned for last year's golden girl. It was Charline Picon [FRA] who took the medal race by the scruff of the kneck and lead almost from the start. Behind her, Bryony Shaw [GBR] had to put in a good one having been beating herself up all week and adding unnecessary pressure to a pressurised situationWho ever talks about 'home advantage' for the all conquering Skandia Team GBR has to think again after the Australians and the generally under-performing French Teams aced it last week both taking the lions share of the medals
Anyway, I digress... Bryony made sure of her bronze medal by finishing the medal race just behind Charline in first. Blanca was deep in the pack and dropped from first overall to second as a result.
Side Note: It was good to see the ISAF Youth World Vice Champion, Izzy Hamilton [GBR] taking part in her first senior medal race. She had a torrid time in the light airs of Istanbul. She is happy to admit that she prefers to race in a breeze so all credit to her for sticking with it.
Next stop: the RS:X World Championships in Kerteminde, Denmark. First Race day - August 29th.
| RSX Women's Top 10 | |||
| 1 | Charline Picon | FRA | 44 |
| 2 | Blanca Manchon | ESP | 50 |
| 3 | Byrony Shaw |
GBR | 63 |
| 4 | Flavia Tartaglini | ITA | 72 |
| 5 | Pauline Perrin | FRA | 74 |
| 6 | Laura Linares | ITA | 77 |
| 7 | Eugenie Ricard | FRA | 87 |
| 8 | Marine Rambaud | FRA | 103 |
| 9 | Qubin Chen | CHN | 118 |
| 10 | Izzy Hamilton | GBR | 123 |
