J Class at Les Voiles de St Tropez - Day 3
by J Class Association 4 Oct 2013 08:16 BST
28 September - 6 October 2013
A two race day
The Js are having a fantastic regatta here in the bay of St Tropez, the competition between Velsheda, Hanuman and Lionheart has never been tighter. Unusually the Js completed two races today, a very short windward leeward followed by a coastal course finishing in front of the city walls – a delight for the throngs of spectators lining the remparts.
Conditions were rated as medium for the first race, seeing 11-12 knots of wind rising to just over 16 knots during the second race.
"It was a tough day on the water," summed up Victor Weerens racing aboard Lionheart, "the first beat of the first race was only 1.2 nm and really too short to accomplish anything, there was one maybe two tacks and that is it, really impossible to make any changes to the positions."
It seemed that Hanuman nailed both starts, "whoever started to the right had control", explained Tom Dodson aboard Velsheda, "this was Hanuman in both races". It was all about the start and the following few minutes that dictated how each race would be played out.
'Busy', is how Tom described it – short legs meant slick crew work was essential and according to Kenny Read the Velsheda crew are showing the rest how it is done.
"Full credit to Velsheda, they are really sailing well and making it making it hard for us on Hanuman, the crew work is polished and they fully deserved their first win today."
Velsheda won on corrected time by a mere 3 seconds.
"We are paying for the fact that we haven't sailed together since the Palma Superyacht Cup in June," continued Kenny, "Velsheda have the extra regatta from Porto Cervo under their belt, and it really shows – good for them!"
Hanuman had a convincing win in the second race, as the Js followed the Wallys to finish with a down wind leg in the Gulf of St Tropez. "We love racing here, to be surrounded by the smaller classics is quite a sight, and adds another dimension."
Thursday is a lay-day, leaving two more days racing to complete the regatta. It is still very close between the 3 leading J's with Hanuman and Velsheda both tied on 7 points, with Velsheda having the edge on countback.
Results can be found here and you can follow the tracking live or for a replay of earlier races on TracTrac.
lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr/en