| MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA-(3-1-2005) Can local Black Rock sailor, Rohan Veal be beaten at the Moth Worlds at Sail Melbourne? So far - no.
Veal (AUS), sailing the appropriately named Outlaw won Race 1 of the Worlds yesterday and stitched both races today on Port Phillip Bay at Sail Melbourne to lead the series by three points with his two main rivals, Brits Simon Payne sailing Shoulder Angel (also appropriately named) and Adam May (Mistress) bringing up the rear in second and third places.
Racing so far has favoured the ‘foilers’ in the fleet; the top six overall after today racing all sailing with the foil in the Black Rock YC hosted event.
Today’s conditions were about as perfect as you can get, 10-12 knot winds on flat seas with the sun shining – just what a Moth sailor might ask for.
It seems no matter what the rest do, Veal punches his way through and does not look back. He is poetry in motion to watch as some capsized and others struggled around him.
The conventional Moth sailors, of which new Australian champion Les Thorpe is best placed, in seventh overall, will be praying for a light day which may give them the opportunity to shine.
In Race 3, Mark Robinson sailing On The Razor’s Edge (SIN) got an early lead, rounding the first windward mark in first place, but could not maintain. By the time they had come around again, Veal was way ahead and there he stayed.
Payne continued his claim on second place – scoring two more today, whilst third placed May went 3-2 to remain in third place. Robinson is in fourth overall after a fourth and third today.
Veal is pleased with his three wins, commenting this afternoon, ‘maybe it’s because I’m sailing on my home ground, maybe it’s all the practice I have put in – I’ve been practicing for ages. I’m looking forward to tomorrow – the forecast is for a very windy day, but I actually like all conditions.’
One thing is sure, the foilers are exciting to watch as they become airborne with a bit of speed and take off leaving the rest in their wake.
West Australian bothers John and Garth Ilett (AUS) are also competing at these Worlds. John is the designer of the revolutionary foil, Garth, who is best placed of the two in sixth overall, the foil ‘Test Pilot’.
The 47-strong fleet will continue their ten-race series tomorrow afternoon starting at 14.00 local time - weather permitting.
Provisional top five results:
1 Outlaw Rohan Veal (AUS) 3
2 Shoulder Angel Simon Payne (GBR) 6
3 Mistress Adam May (GBR) 10
4 On The Razor’s Edge Mark Robinson (SIN) 12
5 Windrush Brett Burvill (AUS) 21
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