The Gods not helping at Etchells Worlds

Brisbane, Australia (October 23, 2018) – The early days of the 2018 Etchells World Championship has been a battle between the Weather Gods and the Race Committee as ultra-light and variable winds have now been served up twice, and while the mission is to provide the 94-boat fleet with the full 9-race schedule, the Gods are not helping.

After holding the fleet on land for an hour and a half, the fleet was released in hopes that the continual flicks in the breeze would settle down, but as the clock ticked it became apparent it would again be a one race day.

Course One was designated, meaning an extra leg back to windward for the finish, but there was a long way to go before that. There was a strong tide running out of Moreton Bay from South to North and this would turn back in the middle of the afternoon.

Any chance of it becoming a true Nor’easter was cast adrift when the Easterly aspect won the day, but it settled in for a good 12-knot type affair, which is pretty much ideal. It would clock even further right for the finish, with a course change to 060 degrees as the direction for the crews to find the Committee Boat and finish pin.

Alas, nine boats did not get to partake in today’s festivities after breaking the start (OCS), one of which was yesterday’s winner, Iain Murray’s Havoc. It also means that with a pair of second places now, Lisa Rose (AUS 1449), which is Martin Hill, Sean O’Rourke, Julian Plante, and Mat Belcher, they now sit at the top of the table.

However, winning the day, after a slowish start was Tango (AUS 1440) skippered by Chris Hampton, with crew Sam Haines and Charlie Cumbley. Apart from the win today, they also climb into second place overall with 16 points, 12 adrift of Lisa Rose.

“True, we didn’t have a great start,” recalled Hampton. “Unfortunately, one of the boats that were OCS was in front of us, and this unsettled our program somewhat. We just hung in long enough to find a lane out, as we always wanted to be on the right-hand side of center of the course. We could then find good height and speed, which worked to our advantage, and so we were well placed at the first weather mark.

“Running back downwind we did not gybe first up, but soon enough, picking up pressure as we went down. We went around the left gate, and played the center right of the course once more, but the boats who had gone hard right did do well later on in the leg. The process was pretty much repeated at the top once more, and we found our downwind speed was really good.

“Sam and Charlie are doing a great job, and our communication is quiet, considered, relaxed, and this all leads to good vibe on board. We used some of our lead to cover other boats on the final work to the finish, and it is happy times, but certainly a long way to go yet.

Also on 16 points overall is Tom King’s Iron Lotus, who won the Pre-World title last week, with Mark Thornburrow and his Racer C crew a point back in fourth, and a three-way tie lurking one more point astern.

Amid that tie is Skanky Gene with Jay Cross, Mike Buckley, George Peet and Eric Shampain. “Everybody is so good, that the steering grooves are very small,” notes Cross. “Little mistakes have a big effect. Tide has been a bigger factor than I think we reckoned for, and we might have to deal with it again tomorrow, maybe two times at that. I think the weather will stabilise as the week goes on, and we should get a great series in.”

The 9-race World Championship will be held October 22-27.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Day Two Results (Top 10 of 94; 2 races)

Editor’s note: The elite Aussie Olympic 470 team of Matt Belcher and Will Ryan are proving to be good in these buffaloes too as their teams are now first and fourth, respectively. Also, the American contingent is climbing as skippers Jud Smith and Jay Cross are in the top 10 with Peter Duncan, Michael Goldfarb, Steve Benjamin, and Scott Kaufman in the top 20.

Source: John Curnow