Issue date
Kia Ora All, Lifts and Knocks......
For sailors they describe the wind direction relative to the sailors as they head for a Mark. Almost the same, but completely different, a over large group of Kiwi parents and sailors trapped in a lift while the rest of us sat at the restaurant waiting for them to arrive at the Team Dinner ....no amount of knocking got them out but the rescue services performed the deed and saved them all from going beyond stripping past their underwear. Fun Times.
The last day of a Worlds is always a bitter, sweet, but stressful time. The pressure of achieving or holding a position, stripping and returning the Charter boats and hoping not to lose your bond, packing and loading, the sailors wanting to let off steam at the 'afterparty', and the drive home thru the back streets of Valencia, completely lost, fuel tank on empty at 4.30am ....more fun times.
Sailing conditions today similar to the last few days, wind came in late, launched late, Race Office late getting started then again several General Recalls in about 7-8 knots of building breeze. Not so far out again today, RO feeling the pressure of two races per fleet to get in, Two races for the Gold and Silver fleets on the Girls Course.
NZL girls Liv and Abby suffered a capsize to finish 16th in the days first race and a strong 5th in the last to finish 3rd in the Bronze Fleet and make the podium. Eliza and Julia had some issues in the lighter, more shifty breeze of the early afternoon, 30th in the first race but a better 14th in 2nd race to finish up 11th in Bronze Fleet.
It was all action on the Open course with the race leaders very close, the pressure on. The first start was Gold fleet, Taylor and Henry got of to a flyer, Sam and Zac not so good. Taylor and Henry rounded the Top mark in 6th, bottom mark in 4th but the second upwind rounding was tight and another protest was called on them, even though they thought they were well clear, Lessons learned from the day before, did their turns but dropped back to finish 10th. Sam and Zac had a great recovery from second to last round the top mark to finish a very creditable 19th.
The Gold Fleet second Start was very Committee Boat end biased, huge gap down the line to the Pin, Taylor and Henry accelerating full speed when they were cut off by the Spanish front runners starting on Port at pace. They had to dip to avoid but couldn't face another protest. They were 6th around the top mark and held that until the Finish. Sam and Zac on their tail all the way, the two Kiwi boats finishing the last race 6th and 7th.
The Silver Fleet had so many General Recalls that the time slipped away for a second race for them and the Bronze Fleet. 5pm was the last start time.
The two Kiwis in the Bronze Fleet started well in the building, but again really swinging breeze. Annabel Cave and Sam Bullock finished 9th, Taylor Balogh and Sam Lee 12th. That was enough for Taylor and Sam to win the Bronze Fleet, Annabel and Sam 10th.
Back to the Gold Fleet, great result for the two teams, Taylor and Henry 13th, Sam and Zac 15th. For Taylor and Henry some disappointment also as if they had not lost the protest yesterday, they would have finished 6th Overall.
Final loading of boats this morning, now towing a coachboat and more 420s to Wales via Barcelona, south of France, Paris, London and Yorkshire ....what was I thinking....?
Full results on 420 website, Richard Cave has sent the link through to the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcnauticovalencia/sets/72157634775880211
Keep warm and as always a Huge thank you to all sponsors and supporters.
Happy sailing to all
Rob
