Chapple’s costly mistake

By Aaron Scoones

GUERNSEY’S sailors have made a good start, but it is a different story for the sailboarders. Competing in the bright blue sea off Rhodes Town, Darragh Lee was in third place after the first day of action in the Laser standard rig. He finished third, seventh and 15th in the first three races.

The 31-year-old has come fourth in the Games three times and is looking to break his duck this week.

‘I’m pleased, it’s a good indicator to know that I’m on the pace,’ he said yesterday.

‘The wind was a little bit lighter than I was hoping for yesterday but it’s strong enough it gets you moving.’

Guernsey’s other competitor in this class, 17-year-old James Chapple, had a disastrous opening race when he was judged to have crossed the start line too early. This saw him relegated to 26th spot.

He bounced back to finish 11th and fourth in the following two races.

The rules allow a sailor to discard their worst performance, which could wipe out his 26th spot.

‘Hopefully, that will be his one discard,’ said Lee.

And after yesterday’s opening session in the Laser radial, Chapple’s older sister, Clare, 19, and Sophie Platts, 17, are in good positions.

Platts picked up a fourth spot, 11th and seventh in the three races while Chapple came sixth, 12th and fifth out of 26 boats.

‘They are doing really well,’ said manager Mike Chapple.

‘Whether they get individual medals is debatable, but they are packing it in for the team medals. It’s a good grouping to use an archery metaphor.’

But Guernsey’s sailboarders are finding it tough.

Team silver medallists two years ago, they are out of the reckoning at the moment as they come to terms with the conditions and the Olympic RSX boards.

James Briggs, who won individual gold in Shetland, found himself down in 15th spot after the first day and he did little to change this yesterday.

The highest-placed Sarnian after the opening session was Tim Laine in sixth, followed by Dan Harradine in ninth and Simon Gregory in 10th.

A pair of Menorcan boarders are out front.

‘I had a very tough day on Sunday,’ said Briggs yesterday.

‘Menorca are doing it. They are very experienced with this board but other people are going to get more experienced with it.’