Bermudian Sailor Moves Up To 4th In Singapore
Bermudian sailor Owen Siese has moved up to 4th place at the Youth Olympic Games being held in Singapore. This now puts him within three points of the medal podium after completing two more races today.
Owen was able to score another excellent 2nd place finish in race three of the regatta and an 11th place in race four in the twenty nine boat fleet.
Only eight points separate 2nd through 5th place so the regatta is still wide open for a number of countries. Netherlands Antilles’ Just Van Aanholt is the clear leader at this point by a 14 point margin. Completion of the next race will allow the competitors to discard their worst race which will mix up the standings somewhat.
Following an early postponement due to monsoon like conditions, the sailors finally took to the water in 5 – 6 knot southwesterly winds. In race three Owen was 5th around the first windward mark and on the next upwind beat Siese decided to chase the favourable breeze on the starboard side of the course, risking greater adverse current.
This move paid off as he vaulted into 2nd place behind Spain’s Martin Llena as the fleet approached the top mark of the second time. Siese hit the mark as he rounded and was obligated to complete a penalty turn, which he did, losing second to Finland. Owen’s superior downwind speed and lighter physical weight allowed him to take back second place which he maintained to the finish.
