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23 Feb 2011

Grael and Swan Take The Lead In Brazil

After three days of racing and 6 races completed, Martine Grael and Isabel Swan have jumped up the leaderboard to the front of the pack at the Semana Brasileira de Vela in Brazil. Contesting an 11 race series, there is still a lot which can happen over the next 5 races, but with consistency being the name of the game Grael and Swan have proved they are right on form.
Day 3 of racing saw light winds which delayed the start of racing but eventually filled in to deliver around ten knots of easterly breeze and some sun.

Race wins have not been in sight so far for Grael and her crew Swan, who secured the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games with her previous helm Fernanda Oliveira. The duo have posted 4 first places and 2 second places – showing total consistency in form amongst the race leaders. Despite claiming 50% of the race wins, the second overall team of Fabio Pittar and Gustavo Thiesen have failed to secure the consistency required which would put this pair in a more dominant position, as their race wins are pulled down by results outside of the top 5.

2008 Olympic bronze medal helm Fernanda Oliveira has moved up into third overall – with each of the top three boats having just a point between each of them.

After winning the 420 class at the 2009 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Buzios, Brazil, Martine stepped into the 470 a few months later with Isabel Swan. At last year's 470 World Championships with was the pair's first major event together Martine admitted, "There is some pressure, other people saying ‘you’re Torben’s daughter. But I have to forget about it.” So far at Semana Brasileira de Vela Martine is ahead of her father Torben, who is currently second overall in the Star fleet!

There is all to play for as the event goes into it's final three days of racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Top 5 Results

Pos Helm/Crew R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts
1 Martine Soffiatti Grael / Isabel Marques Swan 2 3 2 3 2 2 11
2 Fabio Dutra Pillar/Gustavo Thiesen 6 1 1 6 3 1 12
3 Fernanda Oliveira / Ana Luiza Barbachan 5 4 3 2 1 3 13
4 Alexandre Paradeda / Bernardo Arndt 3 2 6 1 6 4 16
5 Henrique Duarte Haddad/ Nicolas I.L. Castro 1 5 4 5 4 5 19

More Information:
Event Website
Day 1 Report
Martine Grael Feature in 470 Times (see page 20)

Image: Martine Grael and Isabel Swan © 2010 470 Worlds OC