B14 World Championship at Circolo Vela Torbole - Day 4

Finally it was a beautiful sunny, not a cloud in the sky and the Peler wind died out early at about 10am. Things were looking good for a strong breeze to come in from the south.

Race 1

Started in about 12 to 15 knots and the breeze got stronger throughout. The boats that did well went left into lucky point led by AUS 375 (Craig/Paul), who rounded the top mark about 60 meters ahead. From this point the Melbourne boys were uncatchable but there was some movement around the rest of the top 8. Off the front the places were changing regularly with Team GBR and AUS having a right ding dong. AUS 375 had a shocking kite drop and headed out to the right hand side of the course, managing to slip back about 5 or 6 places taking several Poms with them. Aus 371 (Rick/Mickey) decided to go back to their old friend Lucky Point and managed to claw their way back to 2nd at the top mark of the second lap. AUS 375 were too fast to catch downwind but AUS 371 were able to jump into a couple of good gusts and clear away from the rest of the boats.

1st Craig & Paul
2nd Rick and Mickey
3rd Tim & Johnny

Race 2

Again delivered champagne Garda conditions with the breeze rising to a constant 15 to 18 knots and gusts.

A massive wind shift 20 seconds before the start shook the dice up for many positioning themselves for what they thought it was going to be a peachy start. Those who tacked right earliest came out smelling of roses as those nearer the pin end who tacked later got headed slightly as they went out right.

For those who went left into the cliff still got lifted and came out on port tack lifting up towards the direction of the windward mark only to sail into far less breeze as they watched those on the right reach into the windward mark at speed in pressure taking GBR 795, GBR 791, AUS 380, AUS 373 and FRA 773 down the tube never to be seen at the front again with all collecting their worst results of the regatta.

Coming out clear ahead at the windward mark was GBR 791 (Nick/Tom), AUS 793 (Bangers/Gracie), another AUS in third and GBR 784 (Steve/Simon) in fourth.

The first downwind saw wind lanes of different strengths for many but those at the front managed to pull out slightly more on the rest by staying long on the port gybe, and at the leeward mark again headed out right with little other options upwind.

GBR 796 kept it clean all the way round to win in distinctive style with AUS 793 in second, and an elated GBR 784 (Steve/Simon) crossing and closing out the podium. A race where the fleet were spread out by over a leg and resulting in a big shake up of the overall results

Ironically, tonight is the Raynes brothers "How I lost the worlds" party. Apt for many of those that went the wrong way on the first beat of race 2, resulting in many dropping out of the top 10.

Tomorrow it will be the Tim/Jonny – Anthill Mob show against the 2 Australians (AUS 375 and 371).

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

Results after Day 4: