There were no complaints about lack of breeze for the first
day of the Etchells Nationals today as the Femantle Doctor kicked in early at
18–22 knots. One yacht elected to stay
in the harbour after viewing conditions outside and several succumbed to minor
damage in the first race, but the serious action happened in the last downwind
leg of the day's second race.
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Raymond Smith on downwind leg, before coming to grief |
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St John's Dance with her rudder embedded in the ocean floor before sinking |
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Torvar Mirsky plows through a wave while setting up for the next downwind leg |
In the second race, Mark Thornburrow was first to the top
mark for the first time, extended his lead on the downwind leg, and finished
well ahead to record an excellent win.
Mike Manford was next to finish, picking up places on the last downwind
leg to relegate Gen XY (Chew) to third place, and Chilli Plum (Mirsky) to
another fourth place. They would have been disappointed after rounding the top
mark in second place for the run home.
So at the end of an eventful first day of competition, The
Croc heads the leader board with a win and a second, followed by Racer X on six points, Gen XY also on six points, Chilli Plum on eight and Triad (John Bertrand) on nine. These five hold a substantial lead on the rest of the field at this early
stage of the regatta. Tomorrow’s racing will face similar conditions, according to
weather forecasts.
Bernie Kaaks
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