Marina Alabau, the 2009 RS:X World and European Champion and also the defending champion here in Miami, replaced yesterday's leader and Spanish teammate Blanca Manchon at the top of the scoreboard while Manchon fell to fourth, allowing France's (Charline Picon) and Italy's (Laura Linares) the luxury of second- and third-place positions, respectively."I am watching nobody special, just trying to do my best," said Alabau. "For sure I can win, but maybe there are five others who can win, too. It's not going to be easy."
According to John Craig (San Francisco, Calif.), principal race officer for the RS:X race course, both men's and women's fleets have been aggressive on the line. Three of the last two days' four starts carried the burden of a "black flag," flown by the race committee after recalling too many starts due to premature starters. The penalty for jumping the start on a black flag means disqualification from that race - end of story. "Racing among the top 10 in each class is very close," said Craig. "The physical fitness of these top athletes is a big part of what's making the difference."
More than 600 athletes representing 45 nations have hit their regatta halfway mark after today's racing at US SAILING's 2010 Rolex Miami OCR , the second of seven stops of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF)Sailing World Cup 2009-2010 . The event, the only of its kind in this country, started Monday and continues through Friday for three Paralympic classes and Saturday for ten Olympic classes, which will have been pared down to the top ten in each for medal races that day.
RS:X Men, 37 boats - 4 races
1. Dorian Rijsselberghe, NED, 11
2. Ivan Pastor, ESP, 16
3. Kevin Stittle, CAN, 24
RS:X Women, 25 boats - 4 races
1. Marina Alabau, ESP, 10
2. Charline Picon, FRA, 12
3. Laura Linares, ITA, 13