Results / Eurocup Fraglia vela Riva, Lake Garda - 23/07/2012

Day 2

As we all arrived at the boatpark on Tuesday morning we were finally greeted by the conditions that we had come to Garda for – gratuitous amounts of sunshine! The fleet was quickly released onto the water with the race committee keen to use the light northerly winds.

The race got underway on the first attempt. However, the entire fleet was eager to get a fast start to the day and unfortunately a few people were OCS. On the first beat once again it was those who tacked off the start line a headed into the middle of the lake that were first at the windward mark, with Russell and June Collister in first.

Down the first run my crew Pete Matthews and I, along with the new flying girls to the fleet Jo Freeman and Katie Tomsett had a great leg and the two extended a large lead on the fleet, with the girls just ahead.

This was a close fought battle, eventually with Saxton/Matthews gainging a comfortable lad at the end of the second lap. Freeman/Tomsett sailed well to hold of fearce competion from Tom Morris sailing with Emma Porteous, and the comeback kings Robert Gullan and Jack Holden. Unfortunately freeman and Tomsett were OCS leaving Morris/Porteous second and Gullan/Holden Third.

After the race the rain returned with strong gusts and the fleet was sent ashore. Only one race was sailed but it still felt like a long day. Overnight the standing were Saxton/Matthews first, Morris/Porteous second and Andrew and Jeraldine Peters third. The discard coming in tomorrow will change everything, it will be an important day with three races scheduled.

Ben Saxton

Day 3

Day 3 was a slow day in the boat park due to the Swedish party the night before.  The fleet launched into a light breeze coming in the direction of the Ora.  The sailors enjoyed relaxing in the sun and recovering from the previous evening whilst waiting for the wind to build.  After about 2 hours of waiting the wind had build to 7-10 knots and the race committee decided to go into starting sequence.

The start was all clear with the pin end of the line being favoured.  The fleet soon split with half of the fleet holding out on starboard into the middle of the race course and the other half of the fleet tacking in towards the cliffs.  Up the top end of the beat the cliffs worked wonders and those who had gone hard into the cliffs came out ahead.  This was to be the dominant feature again up the second beat.  Down the last run the wind died to under 5 knots and staying in pressure all the way to the finish was key.

After race 4 the clouds had built preceding another thunderstorm which caused the wind to become inconsistent and it was inevitable that there was no chance of getting in another decent race.  The fleet headed to shore and managed to get in just before the rain came.  The sailors are now all hoping to have the last couple of days with classic Garda conditions with lots of sun and the famous Ora wind.

Joanna Freeman

Day 4

Thursday in the RS 200 fleet saw three races sailed in a Southerly Ora breeze. Conditions starting to get back to normal in Garda after three days of thunder storms and shifting winds.

Race 5 saw the leaders at the windward mark come from the right with Peters/Peters leading from Struckett/Robson and Gullan/Holden.  By the bottom Struckett/Robson had dropped back and Saxton/Matthews had charged up to third.  Peters/Peters held on to take the win with Saxton/Matthews up to second, Gullan/Holden holding on to third. 
 
Race 6 saw heavy wind specialist Morris/Porteous dominating from start to finish. Peters/Peters pulled through to second over the three lap race with Edwards/Edwards making up the podium. The final sprint saw the wind drop to almost nothing with the tail-enders drifting over the line!

Or the start of race 7 there was a change in course, moving to a more Southerly course. The small starting line caused carnage with collisions and strong words. Luckily an AP flag was flown and the next start got off without a hitch! Gullan/Holden took the bull by the horns and caught an early shift to lead to the end. Ellis/Caird closely followed although were overtaken by Peters/Peters and Saxton/Matthews the top three overall had a tight battle to the finish and going into the final day are only separated by 2 points!

Richard Gullan/Jack Holden

Final Results below: