EL ARENAL, SPAIN-(15-4-2004) A shifty NE wind, 15-18 knots with gusts reaching 20 knots, provided the competitors with good conditions on the water for the first race of day 3 of the Worlds.
Race 5 had 12 boats early over the line including Dutch team Mitch Booth/Herbert Dercksen who won the race. A good race for the Greeks Theodorakis/Bougiouris who got the first position and are now leading the country’s Olympic nomination. The Portuguese team Rocha/Brito and Swedish Strandberg/Mattsson, whose Olympic status depends on their results as well, were also OCSs.
A protest was delivered with video evidences and 4 boats got their original positions back. NED Mitch/Herbert, SWE Strandberg/Mattsson, ESP Rivas/Escude and ESP Garcia de Soto/Sales.
“The sailors were early over the line but if the Race Committee got 12 and I reckon there were even more why not call out a General Recall?” asked Swiss Martin Rusterholz, also OCS.
“You could clearly see that all the boats in the top end were over. Denmark was the only one to come back. The shifty conditions today didn’t make it any easier but we are happy to be back in the game”, said Darren Bundock, 5th overall.
The NE picked up and Race 6 was raced with steady 21 knots but very shifty conditions again. No OCSs.
British McMillan/Bulkeley came in early: “The main sail split in half after a jibe. Fortunately we had a 2nd in race 5”, explained Leigh McMillan, third overall after 6 races.
German Roland Gaebler thought that “Today it felt like a good Tornado sailing day, strong winds, speed and good tactics”. The two German teams are 15th and 16th overall.
6 boats capsized while speeding downwind. “I learned an important lesson today: look for the gusts before jibing in strong winds”, said British John Ready.
NED Mitch Booth/Herbert Dercksen is leading the Worlds followed by ARG Santiago Lange/Carlos Espinola. The 3 first are even in points and the remaining racing days should be very exciting.
The Championship is validated with 6 races completed. The competitors will have a break tomorrow and will be back racing on Saturday. A dinner is being offered to all sailors in the El Arenal yacht Club tonight.
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