Australians
Show Their Mettle At Flying Dutchman Worlds Today
After
two general recalls, Australia’s Brett Beyer/Roddy
Johnson led from start to finish to win the second
race of the Flying Dutchman Worlds at the Sail
Melbourne Regatta today.
Beyer
said of the 18 knot consistent winds on the course
today, ‘yes, that sort of wind is perfect
for us, we had a great race, the Hungarian World
champions nearly caught us with one leg to go,
in fact they were only about one boat length away,
but on the last beat the wind shifted left a bit
and we took some out of them. We are more than
happy with our performance today.’
‘It
was a man’s breeze today, and we sail well
in a man’s breeze,’ Beyer’s
crew, Roddy Johnson said, referring to their heavier
crew weight.
Beyer
and Johnson are the current NSW Flying Dutchman
champions, contrary to an earlier report that
stated Norman Rydge/Richard Scarr, the actual
title runners-up were.
Although
it was the Hungarians Srabolics Maethenyi/Andras
Domokos who nearly caught the winners, in a twist
of fate, that last beat cost them dearly, when
three or four tacks short of the finish line,
the World No. 1 pair, Hans-Peter Schwarz/Peter
van Koppen saw their opportunity and overtook
to take second place, the Hungarians having to
settle for third place today.
Continuing
their form of the Australian championships, in
which they finished a surprising third and their
third place yesterday, Victorians Gavin Dagley/John
Dryden had another good day to finish in sixth
place, proving yesterday’s effort was no
fluke, only to be subsequently disqualified, along
with Christoph Baumann/Michael Koller (SUI), after
starting early with the Black Flag in force, moving
those below them up a place.
‘We
broke our spinnaker pole launcher and had to jury
rig it, which we did pretty quickly, I don’t
think it cost us any time really. We are very
pleased with our efforts so far – quite
surprised actually, in this fleet, we hoped to
make the top fifteen, but this is great,’
Dryden said on coming ashore, unaware of their
disqualification.
Former
World champions, Ian McCrossin/James Cook, had
a better day today, finishing fourth. Remembering
yesterday’s 23rd place, McCrossin commented,
‘we started at the windward end yesterday,
but unfortunately the wind shifted to the other
side and we got caught and never recovered. We
are much happier with our finish today.’
Toby
Dale/James Cole (GBR) had a return to form today
with a fifth placing, while Hans Genthe/Hauke
Drenenberg (GER) did not stray from their path
today to cart off sixth place.
Winners
of the Flying Dutchman National title sailed earlier
in the week, also at Sandringham Yacht Club, Rydge/Scarr
finished seventh to complete a bit of a white-wash
by the Australians.
With
two races down and five to go, Maethenyi/Domokos
lead the series on countback from Schwarz/van
Koppen, both with four points from Rydge/Scarr
in third place with 11 points, then comes Genthe/Hauke
on countback from Enno Kramer/Ard Gael Kerken,
with 15 points apiece, in sixth place is Beyer/Johnson
with 16, then Dale/Cole on 18 points.
Racing
continues out of Sandringham Yacht Club on Port
Phillip Bay tomorrow, Race 3 scheduled for 10.30am,
while Race 4 is due to get underway at 2.30pm
local time.
For
information and full results, go to the official
website:
www.sailmelbourne.com.au
Di
Pearson
