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Coach Jim Maloney updates from Arhus, Denmark where a team of young kiwis are competing at the 29er World Championships…
First day of finals racing completed. Tough day at the office as they say.
Today was a bit like a spring day in NZ. Four seasons in one day! Sun, clouds, squalls with heavy showers with the associated strong wind and cold then light air and more sunshine. At least it didn't snow!
The race officers did a good job to get three very shifty races completed with the wind shifting through 40 degrees and numerous general recalls. Our boys had mixed results but came through the day relatively unscathed as most competitors had up and down results. It was truly a game of snakes and ladders today.
Markus and Jack had a decent day as they finished with a 3, 23 and 8 to remain in 4th overall. They provided a bit of entertainment as well while trying to clear weed off the rudder with no one steering the boat in 15 knots of breeze. This happened while in fourth and after a couple of near capsizes during the weed clearing manoeuvre they lost a number of places. They recovered well to lead at the top mark in the last race only to sail into a hole and watch several boats slip by in heaps more pressure. Some days require a bit of luck!
Isaac and Micah slipped slightly to 15th overall as they had a bit of an off day for them. But their spirits are high and they are looking forward to tomorrow’s scheduled four races. With 40 degree shifts, it was hard to always get it right today. And a crash tack capsize in race two trying to avoid a starboard tacker didn't help their cause either.
Josh and Jack had two very good races in the silver fleet to start the day off. After the first two races they had moved up to 6th in the silver fleet. However, the last race they were over early in a black flag start. With no discards at this point they finished the day in the same position as they started.
The forecast for tomorrow is for lighter breezes with four races scheduled. It should be a very interesting day on the water.
Current standings are as follows…
4th Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson
15th Isaac McHardie and Micah Wilkinson
59th Josh Handa and Jack Rogers (6th in silver fleet)
