Magic Marine RS500 Worlds at Fraglia Vela Riva, Lake Garda

Magic Marine RS500 Worlds at Fraglia Vela Riva, Lake Garda - Day 4

by RS Class Association 26 Jul 2012 21:46 BST 23-27 July 2012

RS500 Worlds at Lake Garda day 4 © Ingarda Trentino / www.fotofiore.com

On day four of the racing the wind made a better appearance, allowing three races to be held in a fresh southerly breeze that fluctuated between around 10 and 17 knots. There were still areas of higher pressure to be found on the course and taken advantage of, with the occasional light patch to be careful to avoid.

Race one saw the Bad Boys Barend Hiltermann and Max Blom (NED) fly up the first beat to win the first upwind leg – they were clearly enjoying the stronger breeze and were keen to maximise its potential. A lighter downwind leg allowed current leaders Tim Wilkins and Heather Martin (GBR) to overtake, but they were chased for the rest of the way around the course. However they were able to hold off the Bad Boys for long enough to secure a first with Barend and Max getting their best position of the week so far in second. Paul and Greg Bartlett (GBR) were also performing well and finished third overall in race one. Wearing the blue jersey (signifying their current standing of third position on the leader board) they had a good day on the water and will keep the jerseys for tomorrow. Italians Luca Carini and Rudolfo Rubino also got their best score so far and claimed fourth position, with Carrie Howe and Mischa Heemskerk (USA) finishing in fifth – a well earned position after coming through from the back of the fleet.

Race two delivered a stronger and more consistent breeze, which bode well for Carrie and Mischa, the Bad Boys, Paul Childs and Chris O'Neill (GBR), and the wind-loving Swedes Johan Rook and Malin Broberg. Also chasing down the leading pack were Tobias and Max Freiman (SWE) who were flying upwind. Leading all girl team Wibke Wriggers and Annika Ellerbrock (GER) had a good race with very good upwind speed. It was Carrie and Mischa who claimed victory, ahead of Paul and Chris, followed closely by Bad Boys Barend and Max. Johan and Malin were in fourth, with Tim and Heather in fifth.

Race three proved that today's racing was all about winning the start – choosing the right end of the line and being first away was crucial for claiming clear wind. Tim and Heather were able to get away cleanly off the pin end of the start line, leading to the first mark and holding on to a clear win. There was a close battle between the next three boats who finished within spitting distance of each other. Carrie and Mischa prevailed ahead of Barend and Max, who finished in front of Greg and Paul. Luca and Rudolfo had another good result finishing in fifth.

At the end of race eight the overall standings see Tim and Heather (GBR) holding a 7 point lead over second place Carrie and Mischa (USA). Paul and Greg (GBR) are third, only one point ahead of Barend and Max (NED) in fourth. Johan and Malin (SWE) are currently in fifth. Two more races tomorrow will hopefully take place in the true force of the Ora (it bodes well that it has been very hot today) – so the top five is still all to play for.

After a day on the water it was time to cool off in the lake before the AGM in the bar. Later we have the crazy Dutch party to attend...if it's anything like Weymouth 2011 we're likely to be in for a treat!

Results after Day 4:

Pos	Sail No	Helm & Crew	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Pts
1	GBR 625	Tim Wilkins, Heather Martin, Tara	-5	1	2	1	2	1	-5	1	8
2	USA 499	Carolyn Howe, Mischa Heemskerk, Magic Marine	2	-7	1	-7	4	5	1	2	15
3	GBR 959	Gregory Bartlett, Paul Bartlett, Stoked	-13	3	-8	3	1	3	6	4	20
4	NED 935	Barend Hiltermann, Max Blom, Bad Boys	1	6	-19	-11	6	2	3	3	21
5	SWE 112	Johan Rook, Malin Broberg	4	5	3	4	-9	9	4	-10	29
6	GBR 7	Paul Childs, Andrew Douglas	(ocs)	(dnc)	4	12	5	7	2	11	41
7	GER 851	Wibke Wriggers, Annika Ellerbrock	3	9	-17	6	12	-14	7	6	43
8	ITA 950	Luca Carlini, Rodolfo Rubino	-18	11	-21	2	17	4	18	5	57
9	ITA 740	Mauro Finazzi, Walter Bragagnini	(ocs)	2	11	9	21	6	8	-26	57
10	ITA 946	Luca Abergo, Stefano Costini	12	-17	9	5	-13	8	13	13	60
11	ITA 943	Filippo Bucciarelli, Gabriele Tropiano	7	10	12	-15	-23	11	14	7	61
12	NED 964	Michiel Geerling, Hilde van Susante, Rafiki	-19	18	5	18	3	-21	9	15	68
13	SWE 51	Martin Johansson, Axel Johansson	-16	8	-25	10	11	15	15	9	68
14	ITA 945	Filippo Maccari, Martina Gommellini	10	4	-26	16	8	18	-33	17	73
15	SWE 821	Stephen Fassberg, Jonathan Fassberg	15	(ocs)	13	13	-27	12	11	12	76
16	SWE 111	Peter Bokmark, Gunilla Bokmark, Alvan	17	12	-24	8	14	16	-21	14	81
17	ITA 944	Francesco Bozano, Andrea Dellepiane	6	21	10	17	(dsq)	13	19	-27	86
18	ITA 949	Alinovi Andrea, Gommellini Tommaso	11	14	23	14	-28	10	-25	21	93
19	NED 911	Richard Rot, Marieke Gijzel	9	19	-30	19	7	23	-24	20	97
20	NED 737	Stephanie Grootscholten, Chantalle Grootscholten	8	15	6	-29	19	-36	29	23	100
21	ITA 812	Matteo Savio, Enrico Guagliardo	14	-23	14	21	10	-27	22	19	100
22	NED 777	Marleen Blomsma, Jody de Jager	22	-26	-31	20	16	20	20	8	106
23	SWE 89	Max Freiman, Tobias	-29	13	28	23	-32	19	10	18	111
24	NED 965	Willemijn van Susante, Nick van Alphen	-23	16	22	-24	22	22	12	22	116
25	GBR 939	Emma Taylor, Derk Bottema	-31	20	7	26	15	30	23	(dnc)	121
26	GBR 636	Richard Matthews, Luke Carter	-32	25	-34	27	18	25	17	16	128
27	NED 654	Frank van Leeuwen, Lennart van den Dool	27	29	-33	-30	25	17	16	24	138
28	SWE 22	Henrik Sillen, Ulf Larsson	-34	-31	15	28	20	26	30	30	149
29	GBR 884	Finlay Curran, George Jorgensen	21	28	-29	25	26	24	26	-29	150
30	GBR 941	Will Summers, Ben Rahemtulla	25	24	-35	22	-33	29	27	25	152
31	ITA 947	Simone Bonavita, Alessio Bellico, Nemesi	26	22	27	-35	24	-28	28	28	155
32	GBR 604	David Bickerton, Harry Bruce	20	32	16	-34	29	31	-36	33	161
33	NED 928	Jochem Slikboer, Anna Bertling, NNB	24	30	18	-32	-35	32	31	31	166
34	NED 763	Karlijn van den Boogaard, Gijs van Lieshout	30	34	20	-36	31	-35	34	32	181
35	GBR 638	William Slater, Kevin Murphy, Fat Boys	28	27	-36	33	-34	34	32	34	188
36	ITA 713	Andrea Fronti, Chiara Santuliana	33	33	32	31	30	33	-35	-35	192