Fog foils Buddy Melges Challenge on Friday

Sheboygan, WI (September 18, 2015) – The first two days of excellent sailing conditions in the Buddy Melges Challenge on Lake Michigan, USA, was on Friday followed by nothing but the opposite. Thick fog rolled in over the Sheboygan race course, effectively killing not only the wind, but every attempt to get any racing going.

After several hours of fruitless waiting both ashore and on the water, Principal Race Officer Rich Reichelsdorfer saw no other way out, than to postpone all racing until Saturday: “We plan to stick to the program as best as we can, but may need to make adjustments throughout the day tomorrow. We hope to conclude the semis Saturday and decide the final matches on Sunday, as the forecast is for the light air to come back.”

Thunderstorms passed through the Sheboygan racing area during the night between Thursday and Friday, and the strong southerly wind that was so reliable for the beginning of the Buddy Melges Challenge, was nowhere to be seen Friday morning. When the fog settled in mid-morning, sailors were told to stay ashore. At around 14:00 the breeze filled in from the north and pushed the fog away, so the quarterfinal crews left the dock. But even before the boats managed to reach the racing area, the wind had already begun to die again. Then the thick fog rolled back in, but the wind never did. The AP over A signal was hoisted at 15:45, signalling that the racing was postponed for the day.

Quarterfinal pairings – 2015 Buddy Melges Challenge – third stage of the 2015 WIM Series:
Anna Östling, SWE – Juliana Senfft, BRA
Renée Groeneveld, NED – Caroline Sylvan, SWE
Stephanie Roble, USA – Pauline Courtois, FRA
Camilla Ulrikkeholm Klinkby, DEN – Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA

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Background: The 2015 Women’s International Match Racing Series is in its third season, providing a four-event professional sailing circuit organized by the Women’s International Match Racing Association for the world’s leading women match racing sailors. An overall prize purse of 40 000 USD will be distributed by the WIM Series at the final event in addition to prize money at each of the four events.