J24 European Championship at Balatonfüredi Yacht Club, Hungary - Day 4
by J24 European Championship 27 Aug 2023 09:26 BST
20-27 August 2023
The 2023 J/24 European Championship continued with two more races on Lake Balaton on Saturday, August 26. After five races, the Irish team is currently in the lead, with Cillian DICKSON at the helm of Headcase.
In second place is Stefan KARSUNKE skippering Schwere Jungs, and in third place, the best Hungarian team is represented by SALLAI Gábor on board iJroncat, despite incurring a black flag disqualification during race 5. The introduction of the elimination race after the fifth race has slightly shifted the earlier podium standings.
The fourth day of racing started with a shore postponement in the morning, as the wind conditions only allowed for races to commence at 16:00. Race 4 under the U flag got under way with a 6-7 knot westerly wind and only one over-the-line starter. At the first mark of the fourth race, the order was German sailor Stefan Karsunke (Schwere Jungs), Hungarian sailor Sallai Gábor (iJroncat) and Irish sailor Cillian Dickson (Headcase). However, the finishing order changed to Irish, German and Hungarian. In fourth place was JBond, steered by Tomai Balázs, while the German boat Pfau, helmed by Hauke KRUESS, secured the fifth position.
The start of the fifth race was marked by a general recall following the first attempt, leading the Race Committee to initiate a black flag start for the second try. As the afternoon progressed, the earlier 6-7 knot average wind dropped during the fifth race. Therefore, the Race Committee decided to shorten the course and set up the finish line at the second weather mark. In the weakened breeze, the results of the fifth race unfolded as follows: the Irish team aboard Headcase, followed by the Italian boat La Superba, skippered by Ignazio Bonanno, and third place went to El Nino, steered by Litkey Farkas. The competition for the podium remains extremely close, with only a few points separating the leading teams.
Stefan KARSUNKE, currently in second place, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance in the challenging conditions. He stated, "Our goal is to finish in the top five, and we will be content with that. This isn't our ideal wind, but we'll do everything to stay at the front."
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