ACO 12th Musto Skiff World Championships 2023
Report by David Annan (GBR 535)
For Day 3 of the ACO 12th Musto Skiff World Championships at Torbole, Lake Garda, the wind was not as consistent and predictable as the previous two race days. This presented some challenges across the fleet, especially when the wind kicked back in for the final two races of the day. David Annan (GBR 535) gives his perspective on how the day unfolded.
Races 7 - 9
It was a big day out!
We launched into classic Garda conditions with a building southerly breeze. Race 7 started with the usual mix of conventional starboard and the higher risk port tack starters charging for the cliffs on the right, and the now familiar wind bend. At the top of the course the wind went light and the whole fleet gybe-set and took the pain of sailing through the fleet’s wind shadow and into the breeze nearer the cliffs, and then the sleigh-ride down to the gate. Andy (Turbo) Tarboton won, with Sam Pascoe in second, and UK class chairman, Bill Maughan, in third.
Before the second race, the race officer moved the course further north to avoid the lighter airs in the south. Then the Ora kicked back in. Race 8 started in some of the strongest breeze of the week. A small group headed left while most of the fleet tacked onto starboard and headed for the cliffs again. The right paid with some of the front runners caught out on the left. The whole fleet gybe-set and it was a wild ride downwind. Getting to the gate was challenging with lots having to drop their kite and reach up to the gate. The second lap was a bit processional on the skewed course. Dan Vincent showed impressive speed to win, followed by Peter Greenhaugh and championship leader, Jamie Hilton.
The breeze was still up for the start of Race 9. The whole fleet went right, albeit some did a little left first to find clear lanes. In the top third of the beat, the fleet realised the marks had been placed a long way right and short tacking up the cliffs started. At the windward mark there was a choice – the simplicity of a straight hoist then a single gybe to the gate, or a gybe-set to run down the cliffs in stronger breeze, but with the risk of multiple gybes. The wind dropped a little on the second lap as the fleet worked its way up the cliffs. Dan Vincent picked up his second bullet of the day, followed by Danny Boatman, and Andy Tarboton.
Once ashore the threat of some inclement weather led to a rush to tie down boats, but at the time of writing this report, there has been a brief bit of rain and now the hot evening sun is back.
Apart from the epic skiff racing, one other thing really stands out in this event. Lots of the sailors have brought their partners and families with them, giving the event a real family feel. Every day, groups of kids and parents have been playing in the boat park, paddleboarding, swimming from the slipway, sampling the local gelato, and generally having a good time in the sun. Everybody is welcome at a Musto Skiff event, and the Circolo Vela Torbole has been a prime spot for everyone to come together and enjoy the lake setting, both on and off the water.
There is no racing scheduled for tomorrow, so everyone is getting a well-deserved rest day. Racing is back on for Thursday, with the final day of racing on Friday.
At the close of Day 3 of the ACO 12th Musto Skiff 2023 Worlds, the top 3 places are:
1st – Jamie Hilton (GBR 618)
2nd – Matthias Houvenagel (AUS 408)
3rd – Bill Maughan (GBR 637)
Follow the daily races for the ACO 12th Musto Skiff 2023 Worlds in real-time in partnership with SailRacer GPS Tracking.
ACO 12th Musto Skiff 2023 Worlds Overview
View all the results, daily event reports, feature articles, photo galleries, and videos on our ACO 12th Musto Skiff World Championship 2023 overview page.
Feature photo: ACO 12th Musto Skiff World Championships 2023 / © Emilio Santinelli
