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Articles: Day One Report - Ronstan A-Cat Worlds 2007

Added by damonAdmin on Nov 13, 2007 - 03:27 PM

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Monday 12, November 2007 - Today was just a spectacular day to begin racing.  Spirits among the competitors were high, the weather was fantastic and the event organizers had done a wonderful job getting the event under way.  The temperature was in the mid 70’s with winds clocking from 065° at 12014 knots.  The race area is protected inside the reef so the racers do not get that ocean swell, but there definitely was some leftover chop to contend with.  The speed and direction of the wind set up 2-3 foot chop with both left-over ocean influence and a .4 knot current running with the wind.

The first race got off, surprisingly with a clean start.  Nobody was OCS and Glen Ashby (AUS1) and Lars Guck (USA 250) had it dialed in from the start.  The course was pretty even and over the 6 legs the fleet had an opportunity to spread out, look for clean air or shifts and get down to racing.  Some went left, some right, but in the end the first race came down to boat speed and Glen Ashby took a large lead with Lars Guck 2nd and Sjoerd Hoekstra (NED 3) 3rd.


The second start came off without much of a hitch also.  Two boats were OCS and didn’t exonerate.  The first beat in this race showed the top boats all competing for the best roundings.  It was amazingly competitive at the weather mark with boats coming in on the port layline and tacking (and stopping for a moment) only to be passed by 3 or 4 boats screaming in on starboard.  Tremendously exciting!

Anyway, back to the second race.  On the second beat the Pin boat began to notice a slight right shift (from 065 to 070 or 075) and kept the RC appraised of this.  Normally, even for a Worlds, the RC won’t make a course change for a minor (i.e., 5deg) shift, but will keep their eyes peeled for a shifting trend.  Well the trend continued from the original 065 to 080 and was identified at the leeward end of the course.  The windward end unfortunately was still reading 060.  The fleet rounded the weather mark for the second time and headed downwind.  Once the shift to 080 arrived at the Weather boat and was communicated to the Gate boat to set up for a course change, the competitors were charging down on the leeward gate.  The Gate boat signaled the change (to 080) just as the first boats were approaching the leeward gate.  The new marks to Windward were already set (Orange for the change, Yellow for the primary marks), and the change was signaled (“C” Flag, green flag, new heading on a white board, and repetitive sound signals).  Unfortunately, the first couple of boats didn’t pick up on this change in time and they sailed the next windward leg to the old mark.  The Weather Mark boat (which had just set the new Weather Marks) was picking up the old marks (the Yellow ones) as the leaders were approaching on the layline for the old marks.  Realizing their error, they tacked over and headed (already overstood) to the new Orange marks.  The significance of this is that after returning to shore, these leaders filed a Request for Redress.  Rightfully so, the International Jury found in favor of the Competitors that the Race Committee was late in signaling the Change of Course.  Two Competitors (Scotty Anderson – AUS 2, and Murray Phillpott – NZL 32) were granted redress for this race.

Overall, this was a great day for racing A-Cats.  The wind was on the high side of medium and the seas and chop were challenging but easily manageable.  After two races, it’s becoming apparent who the top competitors are.  But, there is still a lot or room at the top for those who sail well, have good platforms and know how to sail them, and luck breaks their way.  Complete results for Day 1 of the A-Cat Worlds can be found at:  http://www.acatworlds.com/res/worlds/2007_A-Cat_Worlds_Championship.html .

Conditions for Tuesday through Thursday look like they will be lighter.  But in any 5 day regatta, you have to expect that at least one day will be perfect for you, one day will completely stink, and the rest you will just have to manage as best you can.  15knots today was  great sailing.  8-10kts tomorrow may bring different sailors up in the standings.  Who knows???

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Lou Vest captured many pictures on the course today and has graciously given copies, Lou has captured some of the best on-the-water pictures we’ve seen yet.

Early detail of race three are:  the race began in light winds, 6-8 knots with a light chop so very little trapping is going on.  The leaders have lapped some of the trailing boats, so the second race will take a while to get organized and started.  First Race shows Glen Ashby 1st followed closely by Lars Guck.  The Second races show Lars Guck in 1st and Glen Ashby in 2nd.  So if there are no corrections from the course it stands:

1. Lars Guck, 7 points
1. Glenn Ashby, 7 points
3. Pete Melvin, 19 points
4. Luc Dubois
5. Matt Struble
6. Charlie Ogletree 


 
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