Andi Lachenschmid (GER) consolidates his lead with a 3,3 & 6 in a tough 3 race day
Day four of the ACO MUSTO Skiff World Championships dawned with heavy rain and calm sea. The competitors were keen to catch up with the programme but at 11am the weather didn’t want to play so the race officer postponed the start.
The rain continued to fall and with it the hope within the fleet, however at 1:30pm the AP was dropped and the fleet headed out in light winds as the race team started to set up a course.
The first start got away after three attempts in 9 knots of breeze; at the first mark Daniel Trotter (GBR) lead from Jono Shelley (GBR) and Andy Tarboton (RSA); the leading pack headed off to the right of the run with the breeze promptly building to 18 knots … this lead to some of the leaders over standing the gate causing a change in the pack; there were also a couple of capsizes in the leading group as the over stand caused a bit of panic amongst the pack.
The breeze held up for the remaining lap and the boats really enjoyed
stretching their legs with some impressive downwind sailing. At the finish Richard Pelley (GBR) took the win from Dave Poston (GBR) and Andi Lachenschmid (GER) in third.
There was quite a bit of weed on the race course today and keeping the foils clear was a key factor in the race and this would be an ongoing factor in the days racing.
The second race (race 6) got off first time under black flag in 16 knots of breeze; the fleet were evenly spread on the first windward but the leaders came in from the right side of the course with Richard Stenhouse (GBR) leading from Daniel Trotter (GBR) and Jono Shelley (GBR). Stenhouse capsized on the hoist allowing the chasers through as the wind built for the downhill ride.
At the end of the first lap Shelley had pulled through with a charging Paul Dijkstra (NED) pulling through to second with Trotter third.
There was still more place changing to come though as Dijkstra pulling through to take the win from Tom Wright (GBR) and Andi Lachenschmid (GER).
Time was marching on now but the race officer was keen to keep racing as the event is still behind race schedule and at 5:50pm the 7th race started under black flag … Tom Wright (GBR) flew off the start line at the committee boat end but was identified as an early started and so feel foul of the black flag rule.
At the fist mark Alistair Conn (GBR) lead with the fleet stacked up nose to tail behind him; Stenhouse leading the chase from Dijkstra in 3rd.
The breeze was now well established in the 16-19 knot range and an interesting chop had built up … combined with the weed patches this made for a challenging race course leading to many place changes that would later lead to tales of what could have been on the shore.
At the finish of race 7 it was a well-earned win for Matthew Holden (GBR) from Conn and Dan Kilsby (GBR).
Stand out performance of the day has to go to Andi Lachenschmid (GER) who as the overnight leader had everything to lose and a tough task to defend his position … as it was he achieved a 3, 3 and 6 and now leads the regatta by 25 points from Daniel Henderson (GBR) and Matthew Holden (GBR) in third. We now have 7 races; when the 8th happens a second discard with kick in allowing people carrying 2 poor score to move up the table if they can deliver without problems on the final day.
As the sailors return ashore they are enjoying a pasta party and beer whilst discussing the ups and downs of the day.
Tonight the sailors will sleep well as they head into the final day tomorrow. Lachenschmid (GBR) is in pole position to take the title but with the high levels of competition in the fleet nothing is for certain. We have 7 races on the scorecard and we target 12 races. We will see how many races the team are able to run tomorrow but it is clear the race team will make the best of the opportunities to race to test the competitors to find a worthy champion.
Thank you to YCC who today did a great job for the fleet.
Full results:
