Class Association
The Allen RS Feva World Championships Day 1
Carnac lived up to its reputation and more today. Great wind in the 12 to 17kt range and sunny and hot enough to fry an egg on a rock. 140 RS Fevas leaving harbour for 3 races together with 50 RS Teras, with whom they are sharing the venue and event, made for a truly impressive riot of colour. On the water the action was as hot as the weather. The race committee had warned the fleet that they might try to squeeze 4 races in today as tomorrows forecast was for ‘gentler’ winds. But 3 races it was. The sailors had certainly their pasta as they came ashore!
With 3 more races to go in the Qualifying series there is still an awful lot to play for. The early leaders are setting a scorching pace. Some of the leaders from last year were heard to comment that yet again the standard seems higher than ever before. So who are the pace setters?
From the UK Jack Hawkins & Chris Taylor punched in with a 3,2,1 score but that is matched by Rob & Emma Loveridge. Morgan Peach and Herbie Harford aren’t far behind whilst Vikki Payne & Steffi Orton get some award for slick work in changing their mast out on the water after the mast fitting holding the shrouds broke. Will Acres tells us that he and Ed Bowman were off form!
Overseas hot performers are Kevin Olssen and David Axen -SWE (Kevin is last years RS Tera Pro European Champion!) , Fillipo Bucciarelli and Gabrielle Tropiano – ITA. Dermot Lyden & Peter Stokes from Ireland are right in there as are his brother Brendan Lyden with Marc Cudmore. Also showing well at present are Veronica Maccari and Maria Lenotti Marta from Italy.
The RS Tera Pro and Sport fleets hit the water promptly and on schedule at 13.30 as soon as the ‘D’-launch flag was hoisted. The sea breeze quickly built to a bit more than the forecast 9-12kts. It seemed to peak at something more akin to 16kt or so. The race officer had warned that one more race than scheduled might be attempted and so it was. Three races was a serious physical effort.
Maisie Letten, who wasn’t in the squads shot out of the blocks in race 1 to get a 3rd in the bag. But the days honours belonged to James Kelly with 2 firsts and a 6th. Josh Aldridge is only 1 point back on 9 for the day whilst 3rd place overnight is Hannah Howitt on 18. So there is at present a gap developing between the leading 2 and the chasing pack.
In the Sport fleet the variety at the front was amazing with 5 Nations in the top 6 slots and the Italians being the ones to score twice. The others were French, South African, British and Swedish. Brice Yrieix from France holds the overnight top of podium slot. Eoin Lyden from Ireland holds onto Middle step whilst Ugo Zunardi from Italy is in the final glory position. A long way to go though.
Crispin Beaumont is leading the British challenge currently in 4th but only off the podium on a tie break. Next race the discards start kicking in so stand by for a tightening of the positions after race 4.
