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470 Worlds - Hello once again, Today was an absolutely terrific day for racing 470s. The Mistral was blowing between 13 and 20 knots with bright sunshine and perfect temperatures. The Committee took advantage of the conditions and ran three races for both fleets leaving one final qualifying race tomorrow. On the women's course McDowell / Kinsolving and Clark / Merganthaler were in the first group with Maxwell / Morgan in the second. Two teams dominated the action on the women's course. The Greeks were in fine form and won all three races. This wasn't a huge surprise. In the other group the new Dutch team of Lisa Westerhof and Margritte Mattheuse crushed the competition with three victories of their own. This was a surprise! These two teams now stand 1,2 overall. Katie and Isabelle got off to a shaky start in race one, gradually slipping back all the way around only to learn that they were OCS at the finish. Amanda and Sara had a terrific opener with a fourth. While Erin and Jen had a 20 turn into a 13 after 7 OCSs were subtracted. Race two had a bit more wind. Katie and Isabelle were much better, rounding the 1st mark in 8th and eventually finishing 11th. Amanda and Sara were less fortunate, but still sailed very well turning a mid twenties first beat into solid 15th. Erin and Jen were 16th, but moving the wrong direction at the end. The third race was a bit of a surprise, no one could argue with the conditions. The wind was now a solid 15+ with gusts towards 20. Katie and Isabelle finally put an entire race together. After a solid first beat they gradually moved forward in the fleet to finish with an impressive third. Amanda and Sara had another 15. Erin and Jen missed a big shift on the second beat and had to settle for a 20th. Race management has been struggling with a new scoring program, so we only have provisional results with a number of known errors. With that disclaimer, Katie and Isabelle are 21st, Erin and Jen 26th, and Amanda and Sara 28th. All are above the Gold Fleet cut at 31, but it's a bit close for comfort. Many teams will be going for it in tomorrows race. On the men's course Foerster/Burnham and Ivey/Cromwell were in the first group, Hunt/Miller in the second, and McNay/Anderson in the third. Paul and Kevin were hot once again, finishing third despite losing their pole lift at the first set. Mark and Howard had a rough one. In the second group Steve and Mike had decent 15th, but needed better to have hopes for the Gold Fleet. In the third group Stu and Ross had their best race so far with a 6th. In the second race Paul and Kevin missed the
first big shift and had to settle for a 8th, but it was worse earlier
in the race. Mark and Ward were black flagged on a general recall
and sailed in thinking that they were done for the day. In the second
group Steve and Mike improved to 14th, but were In race three Paul and Kevin got to the top in 3rd, but hit the mark. After doing their circle they were 10th. They started the second beat in that position, hit the shifts while truckin' big time to round third at the top. The top Aussies just got by on the run setting up a drag race for third down the tight bottom reach. The good guys rolled em'! I was loving it! Victor Kovalenko, the Aussie coach, was cruising down the reach next to me was considerably less happy. Unfortunately, Mark and Howard were on the beach for this one along with the rest of the black flag casualties. In the second group Steve and Mike cracked the top ten with a 9th. They were going well, but didn't have the magic they needed with the shifts. Stu and Ross, who had fond the rhythm of the oscillating shifts in the first two races, were caught outside a big persistent leftie on the first beat and had to settle for a 23rd. Going into tomorrow, Paul and Kevin are guaranteed a spot in the Gold Fleet and Stu and Ross have a long shot. It looks like Silver for Steve and Mike while Mark and Howard seemed doomed to Bronze. Stay tuned! |
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