British Team at the IFDS Blind Match Racing Championships - Day 4

Winds were up 12-15 knots from the North with rolling waves.

The race committee had split the racing back into two categories for a further two round robins. Category 2 were first up and GBR were in match 1 flight 1 against USA. GBR again engaged with USA trying to hold them out but a shout of penalty was not held but a clean start saw GBR gain a race win.

Wind stayed slightly shifty to the right. The next match was Italy and USA - this again saw a battle at the start but clear wind saw Italy take a win.

GBR were up again. GBR tacked back into the centre of the course to stay within hearing of the windward mark. GBR were heading back on port and were using sound to judge if they were clear ahead with the judgement that they had a good gap, a close covering tack was put in. This saw GBR give Italy dirty wind and made them tack off again to the left hand side of the course, GBR had turned into the top mark and were on the lay line. Up in match three against Italy, both entered clean and battled against each other, but no penalties were given. With a minute to go both boats engaged close to the line with Italy trying to gain an overlap to leeward but with great help from Optimum OS14R series watches and there new large print vibration, GBR were able to hold Italy off and cross the line dead on the gun and keeping Italy behind. The new OS14R series watches have a great new function from 15 seconds they have a different sound for each 5 seconds which makes the timing in to the line easier when visually impaired and not able to watch the count down. Italy put a tack out to the left hand side of the course with GBR putting in covering tacks. GBR had a good lead putting in smooth tacks. With a big wind shift to the right the race was abandoned.

The race committee reset the course and both boats were back into sequence, it was a battle again for position at the start and Italy managed to keep GBR running down the line, Italy tacked back to the starboard end of the line, GBR judged the line crossing dead on the gun.

GBR tacked back into the centre of the course to stay within hearing of the windward mark, GBR were heading back on port and were using sound to judge if they were clear ahead with the judgement that they had a good gap a close covering tack was put in, this saw GBR give Italy dirty wind and made them tack of again to the left hand side of the course, GBR had turned into the top mark and were on the lay line with Italy out to the left hand side of the course. With this gain it gave GBR a good lead and keeping clean downwind saw them taking another win.

GBR had great boat speed and were able to change gear as the wind dropped off. Key information from coach Ian Shirra played a big part and setting up the boat was key. It was then into the next match with winds dropping lighter and moved into the East. GBR were up against USA. In winds down to 3 knots both boats entered clean but with GBR starting on starboard this gave them a great opportunity to catch USA on starboard. With a penalty awarded to both boats they started clean, but with very light winds the conditions made it difficult. GBR kept the boat moving and with smooth roll tacks GBR kept a good lead and gained another great win.

The day also saw in Cat 1 some great close racing. With all three sailors on board being totally blind the conditions where tricky. Australia have battled with Italy in previous events but it was to be Australia's day, seeing them battle losing only one race. This saw them lead Cat 1 and go straight into the final.

A big thank you to our sponsors; EASST, Zhik, Oceanair, Optimum and Ark Sailing.