B14 World Championship at Circolo Vela Torbole - Day 3

B14 Worlds at Lake Garda day 3 © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

B14 Worlds at Lake Garda day 3 © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Another day where it looked like the Ora failed to materialize and the fleet, after an hour delay, launched into the northerly breeze. Pressure was anything from 4 to 12 knots. Another day of Russian roulette.

Race 1

A very tough day to call. The committee boat end looked favoured with AUS 375, GBR795 and GBR796 holding the end. 20 seconds before the start a 30 degree shift came through and the bulk of the fleet tacked on to port crossing the boats at the right end. With the leaders coming in from the left on the first beat, middle on the second beat and right on the last beat. Light wind speed machines AUS 780 (Richie & Lisa Reynolds – The Nude) fought out to the left on the first beat and then led the race until the last run of 3 laps when GBR 796 (Nick Craig/Tom Pygall - Harken) got a little more pressure out left to take the win.

AUS 792 (Adrian Beswick/Jono Lebis) had their best race to chip away at the leaders with a third place. The event opened up with several big scores going in except for the ever consistent GBR 758 (Tim Harrison/Jonny Ratcliffe - The Anthill Mob) which scored another counter with a top 5 result.

Race 2

The bias was towards the pin with the main protagonists grouped at the pin end of the line. GBR 758 (The Anthill Mob) won the pin from GBR 795 (Mark Barnes/Char Jones – Team Gul/North Sails) – up the first beat these two teams led the fleet out to the left followed by AUS 793 (Guy Bancroft/Gracie – Bonus Bone) and GBR 791 (Mark Watts/Chris Bishop – Flying Donkey).

Over the race the first two extended out to a lead on their own chased by GBR 791, AUS 793 and AUS 780. On the last windward mark the first two had a sizeable lead, however new pressure came with the following pack. GBR 758 held onto win but a rapidly closing AUS 793 and AUS 780 caught GBR 795, with a bit of a ding dong at the finish, ending with AUS 793 second, GBR 795 third and AUS 780 fourth.

B14 Worlds at Lake Garda day 3 - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

There was no daylight between those three at the finish.

Tonight is the Aussie night getting revenge for the Team GB Pimms night.

Thanks goes to the sponsors, Contender Sailcloth, Team Fantastica, Hamburg Sud, Seavolution, Trentino Provionce, WD40 and Zhik.

Results after Day 3: