India International Regatta at Chennai - Day 3

Tricky weather conditions prevail

The day started with low expectations since the wind was absent from the Gulf of Bengal. After a short wait, the wind started to build up from the South and the committee initiated the first race. The Optimist fleet started first and with a black flag, the start being favoured from the port side. Muhamad Uzair Yusuf from Malaysia did not miss the opportunity and started on port, crossing the whole fleet and maintaining a good distance from them.

The 29ers started right after with Ganapathy / Varun being the only 29er team that started on port, since the rest of the fleet started on starboard, very close to the race committee. They won the race with great ease and continued the rest of the races in the same way, bringing a second and a first place. Hussain / Praveen won the second race and are now third place overall. The girls Varsha / Aishwarya are second overall, four points ahead of Hussain / Praveen and four points behind stand Ganapathy / Varun.

Thomas Maher from Indonesia was the winner of the second race in the Optimist. He started well and kept ahead until the end. Toni Vrscaj from Slovenia was always on his tail and tried to pass him during the last downwind but Maher did not seem to be threatened. Vrscaj consistency today was good enough to bring him in second place overall, after finishing second three times. Peter Lin Janezic is still leading the fleet after two thirds and a second place today. In the third place overall is Muhamad Uzair Yusuf from Malaysia.

During the third race the wind was stronger than the last three days here and gave the chance to the sailors to test their skills in monsoon conditions. This has given a good forecast for tomorrow when the IIR continues.

More information on the event website.