Finn World Masters at YC Labud, Split, Croatia - Day 4
by Robert Deaves, IFA 27 May 2010 23:05 BST
21-28 May 2010
Maier extends lead at Finn Masters with double win
In sharp contrast to previous days there was finally some solid wind at the Finn World Masters in Split, Croatia. Following two tough races with a 'Jugo' blowing up to 20 knots, Michael Maier (CZE) took a commanding lead after two emphatic race wins. Marco Buglielli (ITA) holds onto second place
while defending champion Andre Budzien (GER) moves up to third.
The RC called the fleet out at 10:30 and tried to set the course Alpha just
outside the harbour, but a 20+ wind and steep waves forced them to move the
course to the protected channel between Ciovo island and the land.
The RED group had a clear start in 18 knots and almost everybody went to the
right to Ciovo island, which proved to be the right choice.
John Mackie (GBR) led at the first mark in front of Cees Scheurwater (NED)
and Armano Zekan (CRO), but Scheurwater found good gusts on the right of the
outer loop downwind and rounded the bottom mark well ahead. On the second
upwind the top mark was close to Marjan mountain and the situation became
very tricky, with strong gusts, big lulls and 50 degrees shifts. A small
group from the left corner gained about 30 boats, but Zekan, Mackie and John
Heyes (GBR) managed to cross from the right and finished in this order.
Maier was sailing in the BLUE group and led from start to finish to win by a
large margin, clearly enjoying the increased wind. Attila Szilvassy (HUN)
trailed round behind him to place second while third place finally went to
Andre Budzien (GER), climbing from sixth at the first mark.
Race five started with a shortened course which helped to avoid the
influence of Marjan mountain on the outer loop.
BLUE group started first and again Maier led all the way to record his
fourth win of the championship. Lars Hall (DEN) and Arwin Karssemeijer (NED)
followed him round the top mark, but by the second upwind mark, Budzien had
cruised into second place which he held to the finish, with Hall keeping his
medal chances alive with a third.
In the RED group Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA) had a good fast start on
port in the middle of the line and led the fleet to Ciovo island and round
the top mark, followed by Zekan and Scheurwater. On the second upwind
Scheurwater passed Allain des Beauvais and led to the finish, with Bas de
Waal (NED) in second and Allain des Beauvais in third. Zekan capsized on the
downwind and finally crossed in eighth place.
This leaves Maier with a seven point lead over Buglielli going into
tomorrow's final two races. The much lighter Buglielli, who placed 11th in
the first race, struggled in the windier conditions. He commented, "I had,
as expected, a lack of speed upwind, and also very bad luck upwind in the
outer loop in first race. But luckily all the top guys were in the Blue
fleet."
Behind the leading pair, the fleet really mixed it up with just 10 points
separating the next 10 boats. Third placed Michael Gubi (AUT) placed 21st
and sixth to drop to seventh. The big climber of the day was defending
champion André Budzien who moved up to third overall.
Barring major mishaps, Maier looks set to take the title he last won in
2006, however the other medal places and top ten positions are still wide
open.
In the Grand Masters fleet (50-59 years old) Buglielli is leading but both
Gubi and Hall are within striking distance.
In the Grand Grand Masters (60-69 years old) Wouter Molenaar (NED) has a 12
point lead over Graeme Macdonald (GBR) and Luksa Cicarelli (CRO).
Richard Hart (GBR) is dominating the Legend category (70 years +) in 62nd
place overall, some 70 points and 40 places clear of John Ulbrich (SUI) and
Andras Schomer (HUN).
The final two races are schedule for Friday. Follow the racing live through the event website.
Results after Day 4: (5 races, one discard)
1 CZE 1, Michael Maier, 4pts
2 ITA 2, Marco Buglielli, 11pts
3 GER 711, Andre Budzien, 16pts
4 HUN 211, Attila Szilvassy, 17pts
5 SVK 1, Peter Mosny, 18pts
6 SUI 5, Christen Christoph, 18pts
7 AUT 7, Michael Gubi, 19pts
8 DEN 6, Lars Hall, 20pts
9 GBR 2, Allen Burrell, 23pts
10 CRO 6, Armano Zekan, 25pts
11 NED 29, Bas de Waal, 26pts
12 FRA 99, Marc Allain des Beauvais, 32pts
13 HUN 7, Antal Szekel, 33pts
14 AUS 3, Jake Gunther, 33pts
15 GBR 65, David Potter, 35pts
16 GBR 61, John Heyes, 41pts
17 GBR 68, John Mackie, 42pts
18 HUN 5, Zsombor Majthenyi, 50pts
19 NED 27, Paul Kamphorst, 51pts
20 ITA 4, Francesco Faggiani, 52pts
More information on the event website.