2002 Laser Masters Worlds, Hyannis Yacht Club, USA - Day 4
by ILCA 27 Sep 2002 10:37 BST
In spite of the weather forecasts the fourth day of the Laser World Masters Championship was a great racing day. The 280 sailors from 5 continents completed two races in 10 to 15 knots of wind. In the masters fleet (45 to 54) Tracey Usher from San Francisco, USA won the first race of the day, beating Jack Schlachter and Mark Bethwaite of Australia home.
The second race of the day saw the United States fill all three places with Doug Peckover leading home Mark Bear and Vann Wilson. This fleet is currently being dominated by the US filling the top five places overall. Overnight leader Ed Adams maintains an 8 point lead with a 5th and 7th place for the day, he currently leads Mark Bear who is 6 points clear of Peter Vessela in third.
In the first race of the Grand Master (55-64) category, Jack Hansen and Bill Symes of the US followed Keith Wilkins GBR home. In the second race Peter Seidenberg of the US had a victory with Bill Symes and Keith Wilkins. Overall in the Grand Masters division, Keith Wilkins of Great Britain extended his lead with a 1st and 3rd place for the day. Racing was tight between the top three. Wilkins, lying second in the second heat at the last mark, lost out to Peter Seidenberg, USA when protecting his second place. Seidenberg went from third to first. Over night, second place Rob Lowndes of Australia started the day with a 4th place but retired from the 2nd race of the day , after hitting the first mark.
The Apprentice (35-44) division became more defined after the days racing with Andreas John of Germany opening up a seven point lead over two former Apprentice Champions in Brett Beyer of Australia and Mark Littlejohn of Great Britain after a second and a third today. Beyer won the first race of the day but could only manage a 7th in the second heat. Littlejohn equalled John with a second and third placing.
In the Great Grandmaster fleet (65+) Dick Tillman of the US continued his dominance with another two victories to take his tally to a perfect seven from seven. Henry De Wolf, also from the US, remains in second; third is now shared by Jim Christopher of the USA and David Flakelar of Australia.
The Grand Masters (55-64) continues to be led by Lindsey Hewitt of the USA from Colin Maddren of New Zealand. Both had victories in today’s races. Mark Miller of New Zealand continues to run third overall but is only 1 point clear of Lew Verdon from Australia who had a second and third in today’s races.
Adam French of Australia in the Masters division (45-54) won both heats today, extending his lead over Alden Shattuck of the USA who could only manage a 2nd and 3rd for the day.
In the Apprentice division of the Laser Radial, defending champion Steve Cockerill of Great Britain has taken over the lead from Mark Orams of New Zealand by virtue of his two firsts today. Orams could only manage a 4th and a 3rd . Ryan Minth of the US and Wilmar Groenendijk of the Netherlands are currently tied for third overall.
Full results at www.laserworlds2002.com