Issue date
Day two of the Optimist World Champs has had a mix of highs and lows. The wind ran pretty much to forecast with a shifty and slight Ora breeze of 12 knots lasting for most of the first race of the day, it was a race where mother nature played her part and despite all of the kiwis starting well and rounding the top mark in a good position in each of their respective flights (there are four flights), only Leonard Takahashi-Fry managed a top ten placing. The rest of the team lost ground on their downwind and final upwinds as the shifts became even more variable.
The second race of the day was delayed as thunder rolled around the hills and the wind would not settle. However after about an hour there was enough confidence the wind would hold so the RO started the first flight in a light 7-8 knots with both Leonard and Henry Haslett having strong starts only to be dealt a blow by a large shift that saw the back half of the fleet overtake and bury them. Leonard took a good decision by taking a side and managed to sail his way back into 17th meaning he has held his overnight placing of 9th overall, a great achievement in such tricky conditions. Henry has ended the day in 81st.
Alastair Gifford and Nick Egnot-Johnson both had excellent starts in race 2 with Alastair holding the lead for most of the upwind beat and Nick also rounding the top mark in a very solid position, but sadly once again the wind shift favoured one side of the fleet and both Nick and Alastair dropped back with Alastair finishing the day in 86th overall and Nick in106th.
Our standout in Race 2, flight three was Tom Fyfe who crossed the line in 8th after a very solid performance around the whole course but particularly on the final upwind. His 8th placing has put him inside the top 100 at 80th overall.
It was hoped that three races would be held today but with the last flight of race two being finished at the gate mark that was a good enough signal that racing was over for the day in the hope that tomorrow will see the return of the more consistent Lake Garda winds.
Results Day 2
Leonard Takahashi-Fry 9,19 (9th Overall)
Tom Fyfe 30, 8 (80th Overall)
Henry Haslett 25, 32 (81st Overall)
Alastair Gifford 25, 54 (86th Overall)
Nick Egnot-Johnson 19,66OCS (106th Overall)
Regards from the: 2013 NZL International Yachting Trust Optimist World's Team
