Hempel 2018: Austrians win snakes and ladders in the Bay of Aarhus

The Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 is coming to the business end of the week with the fields in the gold medal fleets narrowing towards the medal races.

Wednesday was a hot and humid day of light and rapidly shifting winds and fortunes in the Bay of Aarhus. Austria’s Tanja Frank (the Rio 2016 Olympics bronze medallist in the Nacra) and Lorena Abicht were serene as others in the leading group faltered in the women’s 49erFX. They finished top overall after winning the last of the first three races in the gold fleet with three to come tomorrow.

Local favourites, Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen started the gold medal fleet races today 10 points ahead overall, but a penalty turn on the first upwind left them near the back. They managed to finish 18th in the 30-strong field, but lost the lead it was a sign of things to come as they slipped to fourth overall.