SAP 505 World Championship at the WPNSA

SAP 505 World Championship at the WPNSA - Day 4

by Chris Thorne 3 Aug 2016 19:53 BST 30 July - 5 August 2016

After yesterday's intermission which brought gale force wind, rain and low cloud rather than ice creams, hot dogs and the safety curtain, the show resumed today at the SAP 505 World Championships. Most reviewers agreed that this latest act was among the more memorable productions by the assembled 505 cast, and most actors and spectators left happy, even though the full scheduled performance had to be curtailed.

Having learned of the forecast the ladies and gentlemen of the Classic Fleet decided by mutual consent that the circumstances might prove too testing for their elderly craft. They preferred to take advantage of the opportunity of the live video stream of the main event from the comfort of the sailor's lounge at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy. In the meantime, the cast of the world championship fleet enjoyed a brisk sail out to the stage, set in east Weymouth Bay beneath the chalk cliffs of the Dorset coast.

Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado take to the skies on day 4 of the SAP 505 Worlds at Weymouth - photo © Christophe Favreau / www.christophefavreau.com

By the time the overture had started, the wind was steady from the south west with a speed of between 18 and 20kts, which gave the pathfinder boat of Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn (USA) a brisk push to open the gate. Unfortunately, they had to provide an unexpectedly early encore when the gate boat was obstructed by a stray actor just under three minutes up the line, but the repeat allowed the cast to set about its business with earnest.

Andy Smith and Tim Needham (GBR) narrowly led the American heavy weather tyros, Mike Martin and Adam Lowry, at the first mark, although a tangle hoisting their spinnaker let the US duo past. Having established that there would be slightly less tide against them closer inshore, Smith and Needham went for an earlier gybe than Martin and Lowry. This proved to be a master stroke as the Americans stood on too long on the starboard gybe and lost significant ground at the end of the leg by having to drop their kite early and two sail into the gate. Smith and Needham had a comfortable lead at the leeward gate ahead of the German boats, Timon Treichel and Morten Roos (9101) and Wolfgang Hunger and Julian Kleiner ((9152).

Fast and furious fiveoes on day 4 of the SAP 505 Worlds at Weymouth - photo © Christophe Favreau / www.christophefavreau.com

By now the wind was beginning to build consistently above 20kts and the contra tide was creating a difficult short chop. However, this proved little obstacle for the leading boats, with the SAP tracking data showing the leading boats slapping and spanking upwind at almost 11kts. By the time their pursuers had rounded the windward mark, Smith and Needham had stretched their lead down the reach to almost 500m. Providing they made no mistake then this race was surely theirs, although with the wind now regularly gusting over 25kts significant skill and concentration were still going to be needed. Smith and Needham proved they were more than up to the task, going on to one of their more emphatic victories.

Smith and Needham take line honours on day 4 of the SAP 505 Worlds at Weymouth - photo © Christophe Favreau / www.christophefavreau.com

Behind them, second place was being hotly contested by three American and three German boats. The USA boats were those of Martin/Lowry, Holt/Smit and Hamlin/Zinn. On the German side Hunger/Kleiner and Treichel/Roos were joined by the renowned heavy weather blasters, Stefan Bohm and Gerald Roos. By now the skies had fully cleared and the sun was whitening the crests of the growing waves, like the gleaming teeth of a shark anticipating its prey. While the top group all avoided this predator, it was the Americans who proved they had the edge in the conditions, with Martin/Lowry, Holt/Smit and Hamlin/Zinn all following home Smith/Needham ahead of the German trio.

With the wind forecast to carry on increasing for the next few hours and with considerable attrition of the fleet having already occurred, Race Officer Tim Hancock wisely postponed the scheduled 7th Race allowing many elated but exhausted sailors and their boats respite before action resumes tomorrow.

The championship leaders heading into this race, Nathan Batchelor and Sam Pascoe (GBR) found that they did not quite have the horsepower of the heavier crews in the big wind, but still pulled through from a modest position in the forties around the first mark to finish fourteenth. This still leaves them clear at the top ahead of the final two days.

Results after Day 4:

Pos	Sail No	Helm/Crew	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	GBR 9131	BATCHELOR/PASCOE	3	9	7	2	1	14	22
2	GBR 9163	PINNELL/DAVIES	2	13	2	4	18	8	29
3	USA 9106	MARTIN/LOWRY	30	43	1	1	4	2	38
4	USA 9173	MOORE/BUTTNER	5	36	4	20	3	9	41
5	USA 9072	HOLT/SMIT	12	8	15	5	13	3	41
6	USA 9153	HAMLIN/ZINN	7	44	13	7	10	4	41
7	GER 9152	HUNGER/KLEINER	11	12	6	RET	9	5	43
8	GER 9146	FINDEL/TELLEN	24	5	20	3	16	10	54
9	DEN 9121	BOJSEN‑MOLLER/BOJSEN‑MOLLER	8	18	30	6	2	26	60
10	AUS 9105	NICHOLAS/HAWES	9	11	18	18	34	12	68
11	GER 9101	TREICHEL/ROOS	19	23	27	9	14	7	72
12	USA 9102	HAGAN/DUFFIELD	16	15	43	17	6	24	78
13	DEN 9118	SAUGMANN/KARBO	10	1	16	62	24	31	82
14	GBR 9085	WALTERS/CRAM	14	32	10	8	19	90	83
15	AUS 8890	HIGGINS/JOHNSTON	18	46	9	25	15	25	92
16	GBR 9143	LOVERING/ALVARADO	66	33	5	24	21	11	94
17	RSA 8905	WILLCOX/WILLCOX	26	24	19	12	23	16	94
18	GBR 9177	GILLARD/ANDERTON	4	49	28	29	17	17	95
19	GER 9135	BÖHM/ROOS	41	20	56	21	11	6	99
20	GER 8929	BERTALLOT/REIFFERSCHEIDT	36	35	17	13	5	85	106
21	FRA 9075	BOITE/CORTEL	21	4	35	19	28	50	107
22	CAN 8970	TENNANT/BOURDOW	55	30	8	10	31	28	107
23	GBR 9174	UPTON‑BROWN/MITCHELL	31	48	3	41	20	13	108
24	DEN 9128	HOFFMANN BUHL/BUHL	40	64	12	33	7	18	110
25	AUS 9134	QUIRK/DUNN	1	10	24	50	47	33	115
26	SUI 8614	STAUFFER/JACOT	13	14	39	36	35	21	119
27	USA 8808	DIAZ/NELSON	52	22	22	23	38	20	125
28	GBR 8963	HODGSON/MILES	51	6	45	11	22	62	135
29	SUI 9147	JACOT/JACOT	39	16	46	14	43	23	135
30	RSA 9063	LARGIER/HUTTON‑SQUIRE	34	38	36	22	25	19	136
31	GER 8975	HOLZAPFEL/BÖGER	46	25	31	16	29	39	140
32	GBR 9124	SCUTCHER/DIEBITSCH	32	29	14	39	27	108	141
33	USA 9168	EDWARDS/MUNDELL	28	34	RET	40	26	15	143
34	GER 9043	BIRKNER/STENGER	38	3	70	54	49		144
35	USA 9095	NELSON/ANDERSON	22	54	29	28	32	38	149
36	SWE 8926	ROSEN/WENRUP	15	39	RET	37	64		155
37	AUS 9028	ALEXANDER/BOWDEN	27	42	44	26	33	36	164
38	SUI 9096	BART/GROB	6	31	RET	27	67	34	165
39	AUS 9061	CAMERON/HERITAGE	33	37	26	42	51	27	165
40	GBR 9088	SMITH/NEEDHAM	DNF	19	11	RET	8	1	170
41	GER 9169	BÖGER/SCHÖNER	50	66	37	43	12	29	171
42	AUS 9167	LOTT/FRANKS	20	57	23	46	48	35	172
43	GER 8519	GNADEBERG/TELLEN	37	2	47	52	36	58	174
44	GER 9171	GIESLER/BÖHM	23	50	49	47	30	32	181
45	RSA 9129	PLATTNER/SHELTON	35	17	55	30	46	109	183
46	RSA 9094	FUNKE/FUNKE	25	45	54	35	39	40	184
47	AUS 9110	STOWELL/ATTWELL	45	27	25	57	RET	46	200
48	IRL 8906	MCNICHOLL/MCNICHOLL	61	7	65	32	55	49	204
49	GER 8915	SCHLESIGER/SCHLESIGER	54	41	51	31	50	44	217
50	GER 8720	TASCHE/TASCHE	49	53	33	45	40	52	219
51	GBR 9093	OWEN/BRUTON	73	28	34	73	61	30	226
52	SUI 8613	MARTI/BETSCHEN	60	21	42	69	37	112	229
53	GBR 9136	MEARS/TUCKER	DNF	81	21	53	42	37	234
54	GBR 8887	WILLIAMS/DAVIES	47	59	40	58	45	47	237
55	GBR 8991	MEADOW/READ	17	84	32	81	44	69	243
56	FRA 9150	DE KERGARIOU/GERON	48	26	57	71	41	76	243
57	GBR 8514	ILIFFE/NURSE	42	40	53	68	52	89	255
58	DEN 8828	WONTERGHEM/WONTERGHEM	58	74	69	15	58	86	274
59	USA 8831	JOHANNESSEN/VON GREY	43	62	52	59	63	64	279
60	POL 9170	MILEWSKI/MILEWSKI	29	69	72	51	60	106	281
61	GER 9035	ROOS/ROOS	RDG	52	87	76	57	48	285
62	RSA 8675	HURTER/ZIMMERMAN	44	85	63	56	56	67	286
63	GBR 9156	PICKERING/PRIDDLE	67	51	50	97	79	41	288
64	GBR 9126	TURNBULL/GEORGE	57	63	71	44	53	105	288
65	SWE 8912	HASTENPFLUG/HASTENPFLUG	79	47	61	38	66	81	291
66	AUS 8957	WOOLMAN/SCAPENS	102	58	38	49	54	98	297
67	USA 9005	KIVNEY/GREENFIELD	64	67	60	70	90	42	303
68	GER 9020	WILLE/BERGMANN	62	97	89	34	65	56	306
69	GBR 8708	GOULT/RUSSELL	53	76	94	60	70	51	310
70	AUS 8797	PIKE/JONES	74	70	58	67	81	43	312
71	GBR 9159	WESTON/HAWKES	76	72	48	48	71	110	315
72	GBR 8860	JOHNSON/KING	63	73	62	72	59	59	315
73	GER 8750	KRUSE/WITTEMER	88	93	66	74	88		316
74	SUI 9060	HOURIET/DONZE	75	65	96	83	101		319
75	GBR 9104	BRIDDON/KENNEY	59	55	59	RET	RET	22	326
76	FRA 8676	DECHAUFFOUR/GENDRY	83	75	64	65	RET	54	341
77	GBR 9142	HART/FULCHER	70	83	41	55	RET	95	344
78	FRA 8847	LE MORVAN/GOUGEON	80	56	85	66	80	71	353
79	USA 9083	ROSS/WATERMAN	65	88	67	78	93	57	355
80	AUS 9022	BURFORD/CHRISTIE	68	68	75	82	77	80	368
81	GER 9054	KÉBREAU/WOLLENBECKER	71	106	76	75	68	83	373
82	GBR 9125	DEANE/WILLIAMS	56	60	83	RET	RET	45	375
83	GER 9021	BIEDERER/ANNIGHÖFER	84	91	115	117	91		381
84	FRA 8954	AGRAPART/AGRAPART	90	61	111	87	62	82	382
85	GBR 8914	BANNISTER/NICHOLSON	86	107	68	79	76	73	382
86	GBR 9032	BLYTH/AITKEN	105	77	80	94	72	63	386
87	AUS 8968	HANSEN/WHITE	82	92	74	63	75	94	386
88	POL 9132	ZAGORSKI/OLKO	72	79	79	88	69	96	387
89	SWE 8835	FRANZEN/ANDERSSON	108	98	102	99	95		394
90	FRA 9031	PHILIPPE/VIVIEN	104	71	RET	61	84	75	395
91	FRA 9164	DECHAUFFOUR/DECHAUFFOUR	93	102	117	98	104		397
92	SWE 9092	HASTENPFLUG/HASTENPFLUG	96	86	RET	113	111		406
93	GBR 8650	SELFE/MONTAGUE	95	80	81	77	74	102	407
94	GER 8903	KWEE/SPÖTTER	77	90	95	96	78	70	410
95	GBR 9036	WEDGE/ALLEN	81	82	78	90	86	87	414
96	FRA 9086	NEIDHART/DE MONTEIL	69	96	97	80	83	114	425
97	GBR 9158	LEWIS/HOLLAND	94	78	73	RET	DNC	53	429
98	AUS 9071	HYDE/JOHNSON	91	120	84	92	73	93	433
99	USA 8439	FITZPATRICK/PITTACK	125	127	100	101	108		434
100	GBR 8780	WRIGHT/POWELL	99	118	107	112	RET		436
101	GBR 8749	MILTON/MILTON	97	103	93	102	85	60	437
102	FRA 8752	FRÉDÉRIC/YANN	87	87	91	RET	94	78	437
103	GBR 8881	RABBITTS/SAMANJOUL	89	99	RET	91	99	61	439
104	USA 8868	KOWALSKI/GINTHER	103	89	99	105	89	68	448
105	GER 9141	OTTO/LIETZ	98	95	88	84	102	84	449
106	FRA 8542	LEROY/GUITTENY	117	108	RET	111	116		452
107	USA 8939	WYLES/FLETCHER	122	113	113	108	RET		456
108	SWE 7343	FRANZÉN/KAROLIUSSEN	124	105	RET	118	113		460
109	AUS 9018	BOWDEN/KOROBACZ	121	125	86	109	92	55	463
110	FRA 9024	VALERY/VALERY	RET	114	90	RET	RET		466
111	CAN 8755	TRAINOR/JENNINGS	100	94	101	93	114	79	467
112	GBR 8340	WADDINGTON/OCTON	119	129	77	100	98	74	468
113	GER 8550	HAUSCHILD/HEYDER	85	112	98	86	87	113	468
114	GER 9123	WILTS/SCHMIDT	112	109	112	64	100	88	473
115	GBR 8432	WHEELER/MARRIOTT	114	122	82	85	96	97	474
116	GBR 8384	CULPITT/NICHOLSON	110	101	106	89	106	77	479
117	BER 9176	WRIGHT/TAYLOR	109	121	108	104	103	72	496
118	BEL 8949	CRETS/LAMBERT	118	116	RET	DNS	RET		496
119	AUS 8637	CRONIN/WHITBREAD	116	126	92	103	82	104	497
120	AUS 8922	LAWRENCE/MURPHY	126	123	RET	RET	118		498
121	GBR 8925	WILLMOTT/DRISCOLL	101	117	118	110	110	66	504
122	GER 8806	HAUSCHILD/MENGE	107	104	103	106	97	111	517
123	FRA 9103	MATHIEU/OLIVIER	106	110	105	107	RET	92	520
124	FRA 8902	ZIMMOWITCH/ZIMMOWITCH	113	130	110	95	112	91	521
125	GBR 8243	GREENLAND/MAWHINNEY	115	124	114	RET	105	65	523
126	POL 8909	DOMASKI/KACZMAREK	92	115	104	116	RET	100	527
127	GBR 8583	BATTERSBY/CUMBERBATCH	120	100	RET	119	107	99	545
128	FRA 8950	QUEMARD/PICQUEREY	123	111	109	114	109	107	550
129	BEL 8700	COLLETTE/DOBBELSTEIN	111	119	DNF	115	117	103	565
130	GBR 7755	FOX/FOX	DSQ	128	116	120	115	101	580