PARIS OLYMPIC CONTENDERS TAKE TOP SPOTS AS QUALIFYING SERIES ENDS DAY 2
08 Sep 2023
On Day 2 of the Persson Marine 470 Class Japan Championships 2023, held for the first time in Tohoku, saw three races held in unstable winds due to Typhoon No. 13.
Keiju Okada/Miho Yoshioka (Toyota Motor East Japan/Benesse Holdings) continued their lead by taking first place in all three races.
The races started later than scheduled under cloudy skies and a big wind shift off Yuriage, Natori City due to the typhoon, and with a weak wind of around 8 knots, Okada and Yoshioka, who strategized to use the left-side of the race-course, were able to place their boat at ideal positions and played the races out to take three consecutive top finishes.
Keiju Okada commented, "We will just do the best we can (in the final series starting tomorrow). I am thinking of the race-course as a big framework, and if I am conscious only of the second-placed Isozaki team, I might miss the course and get overtaken.”
Tetsuya Isozaki commented, "I had to endure many situations today, and it was difficult. The score in the qualifying series was within my expectation. I want to close the gap racing directly against Okada, starting tomorrow. Every point will count. We have been practicing on a regular basis, so we know what our opponents are capable of. We will see what we can do.”
Tetsuya Isozaki and Yurie Seki, chasing Okada and Yoshioka, finished the second day scoring 1-1-3. The gap between Okada and Isozaki is 3 points, but it will not be an easy challenge to overtake the difference.
The 470 Class Japan Championships will start the second half of the series (6 races) tomorrow. The schedule may be changed due to the typhoon. September 10 will be the final day of the series.
More info: https://222.alljpn470.org