ACO 8th MUSTO Skiff World Championship 2017
Club Nàutic S’Arenal (Bahía de Palma, Spain)
1st June 2017
Worlds Day 4 – 3 races
Report by Rick Perkins
Media RIB driven by Paul Manning
Photos by Bernardi Bibloni Bigas www.bernardibibiloni.com
Video by Ugo Fonollá www.ugofonolla.com
Event Title Sponsor: http://www.aco.com/
Another great day in the Bay of Palma with brilliant sunshine 10 – 16 knots of sea breeze and 3 slick races run by the Club Nautic S’Arenal. The sailors are now at the beach bar re-fueling with water, energy drinks, pasta and fruit replacing the calories burnt up on the race course today.
Today was scheduled as a lay day but as we lost races earlier in the championships the day has been put to good use to bring the race programme back on schedule and we now have 9 races completed which means the second discard now is applied giving a slight re-shuffle to the overall leader board.
Race 7 started on time in 12-13knots but the over eager fleet were called back to re-start under a U flag. Event leader Frithjof Schwerdt won the pin end and headed left with a large group. However, it was Andy Tarboton (RSA) who led the fleet around the top mark and headed off downwind in glorious sunshine and near perfect conditions, followed by Bruce Keen (GBR), Roger Oswald (SUI) and Frithjof Schwerdt. The second round was shortened slightly to hit the race target time with Tarboton maintaining his lead, followed by Keen.
Race 11 started in a building 16-18 knots and at the first mark again Robertson lead from Poston and Ashby (GBR). Now the sea state had built further and the wind was a good steady 18 knots giving the competitors plenty to deal with and a few upturned hulls were evident at the gybe point.
Dave Poston however was having no difficulties and blew through to take the win from Keen and Schwerdt (GER); Robertson came home 4th.
The final race of the day; race 12 was started under P flag and again the fleet got away cleanly. At the first windward mark local hero Justo Martinez (ESP) lead from Robertson who was loving the conditions chased hard by a tight pack headed up by Ben Schooling (GBR).
The wind moderated for the second beat but as the fleet turned downwind for the last time the breeze kicked into 18 (maybe a bit more) making the final downwind a real grandstand finish for the spectator fleet.
At the finish Martinez had held on to take his first race win from Robertson in second and Schwerdt in third.
At the finish it was Tarboton’s second win of the series with Keen in second and Schwerdt in 3rd.
The second race of the day (race 8) started with a clean start under P flag; again at the first mark it was Tarboton (RSA) who had clearly found the turbo boost for the day followed by Schwerdt, Poston (GBR), Robertson (AUS) and Martinez (ESP). With the stronger wind touching 16 knots the fleet were really stretching their legs with some great downwind speeds …
At the finish Schwerdt had overhauled Tarboton to take the win with Martinez (ESP) pulling through to take third position.
The final race of the day started in a slightly softer breeze of around 10-12 knots; the first start was general recalled and the fleet got away for the second time of asking under U flag.
At the end of the first lap, Keen who was in a strong lead who was followed by Ahlmann (GER) and Kilsby (GBR).
In the steady conditions these three extended their lead and held their positions to the finish.
So … at the end of the 4th day the top 2 are unchanged but Andy Tarboton has moved up to third.
Tim Hill (AUS) leads the masters.
Roger Oswald (SUI) leads the grand masters.
Daniel Trotter (GBR) leads the youths.
Stuard Keegan (GBR) heads up the silver fleet and Patrick Harris (ESP) lead the bronze fleet.
