2022 International Etchells Worlds at the Royal Yacht Squadron - Day 3
by Louay Habib 23 Sep 2022 04:32 BST
18-24 September 2022
Three races were completed on the third day of the Etchells World Championship with the competitors spending close to ten hours on the water. Race winners today were Peter Duncan's Oatmeal (USA 1453), Anatole Masfen's New Order (NZL 1499), and Shaun Frohlich's Exabyte (GBR 1459).
While conditions were not totally stable, through determination and endeavour the Royal Yacht Squadron Race Committee produced three battles in the Eastern Solent. 8-10 knots of shifty gradient breeze, with almost a full double tidal range was an intense examination of focus and stamina.
Today's action takes the race count to four in the Etchells World Championship. The regatta leader is still Stephen Benjamin's Stella Blue (USA 1427), Peter Duncan's Oatmeal (USA 1453) moves up to second and Lawrie Smith's Mila (GBR 1502) climbs up to third on countback from Andrew Lawson's No Dramas (GBR 1490).
Peter Duncan's Oatmeal scored their first bullet for the regatta in Race Two, second was Mark Thornburrow's Racer Smithy (HKG 1496) and third was Martin Hill's Lisa Rose (AUS 1505).
Two-time Etchells World Champion Dog Palfrey is racing on Peter Duncan's Oatmeal who commented after racing. "A lot of snakes and ladders today, we won the first race by getting a half-decent start and we got in the mix for the first beat. From there we made some nice decisions. Peter (Duncan) drove the boat superbly in quite a lot of waves for the wind strength. Our tactician Mark Mendelblatt placed the boat very well. We didn't gamble very much at all in third, we just tried to stay in pressure because no two legs were alike. We could have had a lot of points by the end of today, it was a tough day for everyone, so we are really happy to have survived it."
Anatole Masfen's New Order was the winner of Race Three, second was Lawrie Smith's Mila (GBR 1502) and third was Craig Mense's Freedom (USA 1456). Masfen's New Order scored the lowest points total today in the 42-strong fleet with a 11-1-2. The team from the Royal Akarana Yacht Club put in a solid performance, moving to fifth overall.
"We are really happy, but we could have done even better in Race Two, but we had to duck six boats at a top mark," commented Anatole Masfen. "In Race Three we got a really good start and got a really good shift at the first top mark and didn't really get challenged after that. I Race Four it was hard work, with the top group of boats all over each other with some tricky mark roundings. We made a break at the start of the last run staying above the tide. The boats that went down tide got dragged into the bad air and we passed about five boats. It was a long day but good to get out there after all the delays so far, a beautiful day on the water."
Race 4 was won by Shaun Frohlich's Exabyte, second was Anatole Masfen's New Order and third was third was Lawrie Smith's Mila.
Before the last race, we have had some absolute shockers," admitted Exabyte's Shaun Frohlich. "We know we are quick, but we just haven't been getting off the line well. In the last race, we got a reasonable start, and got a good shift on the beat. The run was very hard to defend but we held our own. Upwind we had enough speed to get through all the gas of the boats still coming down. It is far easier to concentrate when you are at the front of the fleet but if you are deep in the pack, competitors make it very difficult for you to go forward. But that last race, I am really chuffed about; there was no 'jag' involved, that win was a personal first achievement; I have never won a world championship race before."
In the Corinthian Division, Andrew Lawson's No Dramas (GBR 1490) continues to impress scoring an 8-4-11 today, taking a commanding lead in the Corinthians and fourth overall. Second in the Corinthian Division is Nils Razmilovic's Matatu (SGP 1333) and Barry Parkin's Bungee Smuggler (USA is now third.
In the Youth Division Angus Galloway's Currigee (GBR 957) had a cracking day, finished off by breaking into the top ten in the open category to lead the Youth Division. Anthony Parke's Shamal (GBR 927) is second with George Downer's Moonlight (GBR 967) in third.
Racing at the 2022 Etchells World Championship, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, continues Thursday 22nd September. For regular updates, pictures and results follow the UK Etchells Fleet Facebook page.
Results from the 2022 Etchells Worlds Championship available here.