Moana Delle likes to laugh a lot in Weymouth. Today was another one of those days. On the programme were the last two races of the RS:X surfers before the medal races on Tuesday. What does Miss Delle do with her good instinct for wind in the finally lighter breeze than before? She conjures up a third and a second place on the course in the very welcome turning conditions, returns to the Olympic harbour happy and regrets that the regatta will soon be over, but that she would like to continue surfing for at least another week because it is so much fun. She will also miss the Olympic flame and the rings on the surfers' briefs. "I say hello to them every morning." She will miss the other women she loves to compete with out there on the Olympic courses. Even on days when things aren't going so well. Surfing is Moana Delle's passion. Always and regardless of the result. But that should not be misunderstood.
Even if the 23-year-old doesn't want to utter the word medal, she is a natural competitor who will be fighting for one with all her might on Tuesday. She has also trained hard over the past few months with Toni Wilhelm and coach Pierre Loquet to ensure her success. Harder, she says, than some of her competitors. The scenario gives her a good chance of winning the gold medal. Moana Delle is in fourth place overall with 39 points going into the final of the top ten female surfers, which will take place on Tuesday from 3 pm German time following the men's showdown (from 2 pm German time). Leading favourite Marina Alabau has built up a comfortable lead with 24 points. Lee-El Korsiz is behind her with 38 points, Tuuli Petaja from Finland is third with the same number of points. All the top female surfers up to seventh-placed Bryony Shaw from Great Britain are still in contention for medals.
The situation is similar for the men. The "Flying Dutchman" Dorian van Rijsselberge is to be congratulated. With six race wins in ten races and a full 13 points in his account after ten rounds, the cheerful and popular surfer has already won the series. "Nobody deserves it more than Dorian with his performance here," said Wilhelm. But van Rijsselberge still has to finish the medal race - as required by the regulations - before he can celebrate. Behind the man from Texel, Great Britain's Nick Dempsey (35 points) has set course for silver. After surprisingly coming away empty-handed in Qingdao four years ago and now having to admit defeat to the outstandingly surfing van Rijsselberge in his home waters, he does not want to settle for anything less than silver. Eleven points separate Dempsey from Toni Wilhelm ahead of the final, who wants to defend at least bronze, but at the same time has to defend against Poland's Przemyslav Miarcynski.
With 15th and 13th place on Sunday in much lighter winds, Wilhelm experienced his worst regatta day to date at an inopportune time. Luckily for him, the Pole also failed. Toni Wilhelm said with a view to his medal final: "I firmly believe in my chance of a medal. It's my big dream. The motto is clear: I will go full throttle. I'm fast and don't have to hide from anyone here." Wilhelm had been given the seal of approval the day before by Dorian van Rijsselberge, who described the competitor from Dogern as having "two rockets on the board" after his victory on the day.
The Kiel 49er sailors Tobias Schadewaldt and Hannes Baumann are in 13th place behind the Spanish Olympic champions Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez two races before their final on 8 August. The German duo no longer have a chance of winning a medal, but can still reach the final. In the 470, Kathrin Kadelbach and Friederike Belcher from Hamburg are ninth at the halfway point of their series. Laser sailor Simon Grotelüschen from Lübeck will start the final on Monday in seventh place, but no longer has a chance of winning a medal.
