RS700 European Championship at Lake Garda - Day 3

The Ora filled in bang on midday and it felt fresher than the last two days. The fleet launched and had a cracking sail out towards the far shore in a good twenty knots of warm Southerly breeze. The first start saw the majority of the fleet favour the committee boat end.

However Colin Dacey and Ian Nolan monstered port-end flyers, and young Jack Napolitano tried to follow in their footsteps. But the apprentice still has much to learn: the result was a few choice words exchanged from dagger boards with regatta leader Jerry Wales and so Jack vowed not to try that again. The fleet tore towards the cliffs in a building breeze: Colin, Theo Galyer, Milan Hajek and Richard Wadsworth were all very close with Ian and Robbie Bell slightly to windward. Robbie tacked early for the lay line, Richard sailed over the top and into the lead with the others hot on his heels. Ian tacked to a loud crack as his mast head fitting let go, but he managed to carry on.

RS700 European Championship at Lake Garda - Day 3 - photo © Jamie Gettings

The downwind leg saw a few place changes throughout the fleet with Robbie getting the inside line on Richard at the leeward mark, which Richard hit, forgetting that we're allowed to do that he thought a 360 was in order which let Theo in. Robbie gained whilst Theo and Richard battled it out, and in the meantime Milan and Jerry, who'd recovered incredibly well since his earlier dip, were closing in. Then Robbie's rig made a nasty bang as a forestay block let go, but the rig stayed up and he blasted down the final leg and through the finish to look back and see Richard and Theo having a capsize competition near the finish, Theo won and Milan snuck through to leave Richard in 4th. Jerry had sailed well to recover to 5th and Ian nursed his boat home in 6th.

RS700 European Championship at Lake Garda - Day 3 - photo © Jamie Gettings

Race two saw the course shortened (thankfully) to two laps, the breeze was fully switched on by this time and the fleet got away with fewer going for the port option and most starting at the starboard end and tacking early. The whole fleet sailed in close company toward the cliffs. Robbie had a good start and was first to tack for the lay line with Richard and Jerry close behind. The breeze lifted the fleet towards the windward mark and one of the large ferries, but an incident free rounding followed and the gybe-set option was favoured by the majority. Downwind was a real blast with 17/18 knots of boat speed. Robbie led with Jerry close behind and Richard and Milan battling over 3rd. The second lap saw Robbie comfortably leading until the last 30 yards when he decided to put in a extra couple of gybes rather than soak. It turns out soaking was the best option and that's what Robbie got. Jerry sailed through to claim the win, Milan had just overtaken Richard to claim second and Robbie limped home just behind Richard to claim a 4th. Matt Carter came 5th and Theo sixth.

The potential threat of a storm lead to race three being canned and everybody blasted in.

Results after Day 3: