Etchells World Championship 2025 at Royal Brighton Yacht Club - Day 4
by Nic Douglass 13 Jan 14:19 GMT
10-14 January 2025
Stunning - Etchells World Championship 2025 Day 4 © Nic Douglass @sailorgirlHQ
Magpie AUS1486 skippered by Graeme Taylor, with James Mayo and Ben Lamb have maintained their lead in the Etchells World Championship 2025 with a 7, 1, 2 with a total of 17 (now with one drop).
The next closest, DanEgerous USA1473 closed the gap once the drop came into play, on 19 points, then Flying Higher AUS1518 on 26 points.
"One more day," said Graeme Taylor of today's sailing, not wanting to elaborate until the job is done.
Video wrap of day 4
The first race was set at 210 degrees ready to commence at 1155 after a short postponement on shore. There was a shift to the left mid sequences, and the Race Committee postponed with one minute to go to drop the pin back to be at 200.
Peter McNeill (aka Polly) with Peter Bellingham and Andrew Smith on Lucy AUS1082 led around the first top mark by some margin, with Flying Higher just behind, following their brilliant start on port.
"It was a cracker! It was, Polly wanted a cracker up there! We got a great start and just launched it... the wind went all a bit funky and we couldn't hold onto it," said Peter McNeill.
DanEgerous AUS1473 skippered by John Dane III with Eric Doyle and Bill Hardesty took advantage of those around them faltering. They got inside of Flying Higher AUS1518 at the bottom mark to move up from third to second, and then chased down the leader on the second beat and weren't headed from there.
Magpie rounded the first top mark in 26th place, and finished seventh - displaying regatta saving sailing. The crew showed resilience to come back and table a keeper score.
The course for the second race was set at 180 degrees at a length of 1.8 nm which was extended for the final run of the race as the wind continued to pick up, increasing to 18 knots in the gusts.
The first boat across the line was Magpie, and the relief was evident.
By the last race, the southerly had more than set in, and the wave state had doubled with the outgoing tide pushing against the breeze that was peaking at 22 knots. The Race Committee set a double windward-leeward course again, with a 2.4 nautical mile beat set at 180 degrees.
Mark Thornburrow's Racer CC AUS1482 led from start to finish, extending on every leg, even when the crew said it was tough going.
"I'm absolutely shattered," said dual Gold medallist Malcolm Page who is the tactician on Racer CC. "Those 2.4 nautical mile beats when the wind got up to around 20 knots, with some brutal waves, especially on port tack".
On finding their form in today's conditions, the team said it wasn't on any leg in particular.
"Yeah we got off the start and we were right up there, upwind and downwind," said Thornburrow.
"We're just getting our mojo - right at the end," said Page.
"At the end of the regatta," confirmed Thornburrow.
"We're ready to go!" exclaimed Page.
There are two more races scheduled for tomorrow to complete the full schedule of nine races, commencing at 1055.
Race 5 Live
Race 6 Live
Race 7 Live
Etchells Australia: www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia
Etchells Class Association: www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass
This regatta would not be possible without the support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto Australasia, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and volunteers, and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
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