Pacrim Day Six
Thursday morning pilot meeting at 9am. Sorry Boys still no wind. The poor organizers are pulling there hair out. (Maybe that’s why?)
Come 12oclock the wind started to fill. Class3’s were sent out. It was blowing 3 knots from the Easterly. We all pushed off the line. Minutes later a Westerly started to fill in. Phil had already pushed around the top mark and was the first back into the new breeze. As the wind filled down the course with a punch, we were all off. I still had the Class4 wing up and it was off and out of control. By the end of my 1st lap, Phil had already completed the 3 laps so my race was over before it started. There was suppose to be a second Class3 race but it was canceled in favor of getting the class 5 pilots out on the line and getting some more races in this class.
I ripped off the 5.5m and threw on the storm sail. I rolled out 50meters onto the lake, but there was not power in this sail. I rushed back in and very quickly changed back to the full 5.5 (luckily). We had a pilots briefing on the starting line and then were off. I got a medium start rounding the top mark around 10th. By the bottom mark I was 2nd chasing Phil. At the turning marks, Phil, John and I found our front wheels in the air and skidding off so we all found rounding marks very difficult, up or downwind. Tomorrow I may strap so lead up on the steering forks if the wind comes up otherwise it could be quite dangerous if someone turned in front of me. The wind died and Phil stalled out. I managed to get around the wing mark and got the kick downwind while the rest of the fleet struggled. After the finish John rolled in next about 3 minutes behind, then Jason. Phil rolled in mid fleet, however later we discovered he had been DSQ for getting out of his yacht and pushing just by the finishing line. He has appealed the ruling as he is sure he met rule, but until witness are found and prove he did not push (rather than scoot), may have to carry the EDSQ, around 30 points, which will remove any chance of Phil getting a placing. Needless to say, there are some unhappy campers in the Kiwi camp.
Class5’s lined up for a second race. Phil and myself lead around the top mark. Phil had to much top end speed and I was only able to follow behind. One last lap Jason passed me, he was able to keep his front wheel on the ground and corner tighter than me, along with a faster top end speed in the higher wind. I followed Phil and Jason across the line.
The officials set about setting up an 18km lap while we all change to our class4 rigs. A pilots briefing and we were off down the lake, 4km to the end of the causeway and then due west for 4km to the bottom mark. I was wetting my pants. I thought we might get 20knots during this race and I don’t know what the wing is going to do. It really seem to want to kick as the breeze builds. I was 4th around the top mark with Jason. Myself and Jason traded places on the downwind for a while until I found the wings sweat spot. By the bottom mark I had passed both Bill and Phil. On the way back up the wind started to drop and Bill Nairn glide back past me. We traded tacks for a while, but as we approached the camp the wind dropped and Bill started to disappear. On the down wind it as really light and I struggle to keep the wing pulling and recon that I was about to stop a few times. I did a figure 8 at the bottom mark to keep rolling. Back up to the finish and see was over. There was suppose to be a second race but it had dropped off the there was not enough day light to get away another race.
The smaller yachts got together and did a TV promotion video, while Rabbit, Nord and myself were on the protest committee, hearing Phil appeal against his DSQ. A horrible result to a brilliant afternoons sailing.
Another day tomorrow, who knows what it will bring.
Its 6.30am local time, not a breath of wind again.
Bye for now,
nz777@ohope.co.nz
+64 21 725 760 mobileNz777
Ps
Yesterdays result are posted on the below link
http://www.pacrim2006.com.au/thr.html
One more class5 race and there pilots will be able to drop there worst place. (Cannot drop dsq’s)
Allot of position will change once this happens and points will become tighter.
