Mirror Worlds at Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Day 3

Amidst concerns that the wind was really going to blow hard today the fleet launched and proceeded directly out of the harbour to the designated sailing area in the bay. The glass dropped sharply yesterday and the concern was that racing may be blown out. Contrary to expectations the racing was fast and on a flat sea. Three races were completed to bring the race total up to nine for the series and also the first and only discard kicked in at race number eight.

Young Tom Lovesey had to come back to shore as he was still unable to sail as a result of bad burns on his legs, from the harsh sun during the pre-worlds. This has not been a good regatta for him at all.

The first race was started at 10:08 a.m. in a light chop and the wind from south south west at 16 knots. No recalls and the course sailed was Number 1, the triangle, sausage. For most of the boats the left side of the course paid and the first boat across the line was Vigilante 9 sailed by Nick Davis and Jogn Collova (Australia), second place went to Mirrajuana with Ricky and Ryan Robinson (South Africa) and in third Sieraj Jacobs and Ashwin Daniels (South Africa). Sieraj commented that it is a long time since he has done so many stomach crunches!

Race number two again over the triangle, sausage course dished up the second first place for South Africa's Sieraj Jacobs and Ashwin Daniels. Sieraj was followed by John and Jamie Clementson (GBR) sailing Whatever and in third place were Juliet and Richard Long (GBR) sailing on Mesmeriser. The wind switched 10 degrees to the south for the last beat and, true to the form, the right side of the course paid. The slower boats missed the lift on the right and marched up left resulting in a 16 minute gap between the first and last finisher. The wind strength at the strat of the race was a very usable 19 knots dropping down to 13 knots at the finish.

Race number three of the day and race number nine of the series started after the marks were adjusted 10 degrees and on a windward leeward course in a 13 knot wind. One OCS at the start made it only one infringement for the day. Once again the switches were to the south making the right or inshore side the favoured one. Nick Davis and John Collova (Australia) got their second first place for the day, followed by Anna Mackenzie and Holly Scott (GBR) in second with Juliet and Richard Long (GBR) bringing up the third place.

Then it was a quick sail back to Algoa Bay Yacht Club, hot soup and an eager wait for the results.

The Anna Mackenzie and Holly Scott (GBR) express sailing on Simply Gorgeous are still points leaders with a Nett point total of 24. Barring some really bad racing for the final three races it looks like we can confidently predict that the Mirror Class with have it's first ever female helm and crew as Mirror Class World Champions.

Top three places: (after nine races)

1. Anna Mackenzie and Holly Scott (England) - 24 points
2. Nick Davis and John Collova (Australia) - 42 points
3. John Clementson and Jamie Clementson (England) - 46 points

1. Anna Mackenzie and Holly Scott (England) - 1st
2. Nick Davis and John Collova (Australia) - 2nd
3. Sieraj Jacobs and Ashwin Daniels (South Africa) - 5th
4. Doire Shiels and Graham Daly (Ireland) - 6th
5. Per Backlund and Thomas Backlund (Sweden) - 22nd

Tomorrow is another lay day and the weather prediction is for lots of miserable weather with the wind swinging from west to south south east and blowing at around 18 knots, followed by what could prove to be an even more difficult day to sail in on Wednesday with the wind at 20 knots from the east. Lots of chop and pretty wet sailing weather.

Website: abyc.org.za/mirrors
Photographs: abyc.org.za/photos/categories.php?cat_id=4
Results: abyc.org.za/index.php?cat=45