Jessica Crisp slips out of top 10 at RS:X Worlds

Racing has entered the finals stage at the 2010 RS:X World Championship in Kerteminde, Denmark, with the Australian Sailing Team’s Jessica Crisp having a mixed day in the Gold fleet.

After Wednesday’s lay day Crisp entered the Gold fleet in seventh position and had a solid opening race, crossing the line in ninth position in the first race of the week where all the top sailors were racing together.

Crisp had a tougher race two, slipping back slightly to finish in 25^th in the highly competitive fleet, leaving her in 15^th position heading into the final two days of the regatta.

The three-time Olympian is just four points outside the top 10 with positions six through to 15 covered by just 12 points meaning there will be plenty of movement on the leader board when the sailors hit the water again on Friday.

In the women’s Silver fleet Queensland sailor and member of the 2009 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team Joanna Sterling is in 25^th position following her 26^th and 25^th place finishes on Thursday.

In the men’s fleet Australia’s six representatives are all racing in the Silver fleet with West Australian Tim Gourlay the best placed in 20^th position.

Gourlay had a great start to the finals series with a third place in the opening race before unfortunately crossing the line early in race two.

Queenslander Luke Baillie ended the day in 36^th, after also having a strong opening race of the day with an 11^th placed finish, his best result of the regatta so far.

James Levy is closely following Baillie in 38^th position, ahead of Joel Tyack in 44^th, one place ahead of fellow Australian Eamon Robertshaw.

Patrick Vos ended the day in 48^th position in the men’s Silver fleet.

Racing continues in Denmark on Friday with the 2010 RS:X World Championship concluding on Saturday.

- Craig Heydon, Yachting Australia