Sailing Magazine
The third day of racing (Sunday) at the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships was a tough affair with light winds and a strong current testing the sailors across the six fleets on the water.
The Laser, Laser Radial and Men’s and Women’s RS:X were joined by the Men’s and Women’s 470 fleets on the third day of racing as they kick started their competition.
After a long wait ashore and a further one afloat waiting for the wind to arrive and stabilize there was little chance the 6-8 knot breeze would hang around for more than one race, but in the end all of the fleets got some racing in. In the light wind the current was again the dominant factor with several lines across the course areas. Add that to a few odd shifts and competitive fields and it made for an interesting day.
Laser
South African Stefano Marcia has done himself proud so far in the 147 boat Laser fleet with positions 15; 43; (46); 15 to be 89th overall.
In the one Laser gold fleet race fortunes were changed by the black flag starting penalty after the fleet failed to start first time. Series leader Robert Scheidt (BRA) was one of nine sailors to be disqualified for breaking the start line early. His only consolation was that he was in the good company of current European Champion Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) and 2003 World Champion, Gustavo Lima (POR).
Andrew Maloney (NZL) had no such worries having a good second windward leg to climb from fourth to first on the second windward leg to lead and take the race victory. Maloney explained, “There were a lot of current lines out there. I had a great start and went right for the current and rounded the top mark about fifth.
“On the second upwind I got a good lift off the current on the right and held on for a shift that got me up to first.”
Men’s 470
Challenging weather conditions and a strong current meant just one race was completed for the 73 teams in the yellow and blue Men’s 470 fleets.
Roger Hudson and Asenathi Jim are 7th overall after just the single race for their class so far. They are chasing a top 13 position overall to qualify themselves for the Rio Olympics.
