5.5m IC World Championship - Three challenging races on day 4

by Tessa Wiechmann on 26 Sep 2014 There were challenging weather conditions with extremely changeable winds ranging from four to 16 knots from the southeast veering to the northeast at the end of the day, sunshine and then dark menacing clouds on the fourth day of the 5.5m World Championship 2014 in Porto Santo Stefano.

The three races completed today bring the total to five. After six races have been completed, the worst result shall be discarded; tomorrow, last day of racing, the leaderboard could change completely. The Awards Ceremony will be held at the 16th century Spanish Fortress of Porto Santo Stefano in the late afternoon of Friday 26 September.

Results Overall:
1 - Ali Baba – Flavio Marazzi (SUI224) (6-6-3-3-6/24pt)
2 - Artemis XIV – Kristian Nergaard (NOR57) (2-2-5-1-15/25pt)
3- John B - Gavin McKinney (BAH19) (3-3-2-16-4/28pt)

Flavio Marazzi on Ali Baba (SUI224) 'We were always in the top six and have had a pretty good run. Our goal tomorrow is to cross the finish line in the first three positions so we have a chance for the podium but with the discard the game is still wide open'

At 11.20 a.m., the 37 crews from Bahamas, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Italy crossed the starting line for race 1 under partially sunny skies with a six knot southeasterly breeze. From the first beat, the defending World Champion Markus Wieser on Mission Possible (GER79) pulled into the lead with John B - Gavin McKinney (BAH19) and Ali Baba – Flavio Marazzi (SUI224) in her wake. At mark 3, the sun burned through the clouds, the wind shifted to the left and at the end of the second run the course was set for 115. Fair weather only lasted one more leg and on the final run, dark menacing clouds rolled over Monte Argentario, the wind died down as the fleet crawled towards the finish line.

Results first Wieser (GER79) – second McKinney (BAH19) - 3rd Marazzi (SUI224). Caracole - Bernard Haissly (SUI214) is OCS

Shortly before 2p.m. the breeze picked up to 11-12 knots as the Race Committee set the course for 140 degrees for race 2. McKinney (BAH19) called over the line early and went back to restart while Mission Possible (GER79) sailed on the right hand side and Artemis XIV (NOR57) up the center of the course. At mark 1 Norwegian skipper Nergaard was in the lead followed by Topas III – Jack Frei (SUI217), by Arend Jan Pasman on Feng Shui (NED26) and by Flavio Marazzi’s Ali Baba (SUI224). At the end of the run sunny skies, occasional whitecaps and a brisk breeze from east-south east called for a course change to 115. Artemis XIV (NOR57) stretched out her lead and at the second leeward gate; Dutch Pasman (NED26) was second followed by Ali Baba (SUI224). Markus Wieser (GER79) closed the gap on the last two legs and crossed the finish line in fourth position.

Results first Nergaard (NOR57), second Arend Jan Pasman (NED26), third Flavio Marazzi’s Ali Baba (SUI224)

The race 3 starting signal was at half past three. The fleet was nervous and a general recall was issued. The next start was under Black flag with the 36 yachts crowding the pin end. Most of the fleet sailed to the left with wind from 125 degrees at 7-10 knots. Clouds gathered once again and the wind shifted to the right. Fifteen minutes after the start at mark 1 Mission Possible - Wieser (GER79) was in command. At the leeward gate, the course was changed to reflect the wind rotation: Caracole - Bernard Haissly (SUI214) and Arend Jan Pasman (NED26) were on Mission Possible’s tail. Towards the Ancient Roman harbor of Talamone, a storm was building quickly and once again, and the course was changed. The wind died down on the last beat but on the final run, the breeze picked up once again as black clouds rolled over the course.

Results: At 5.20 p.m. Mission Possible - Wieser (GER79) cuts the finishing line in first place. Second Feng Shui (NED26) and third Caracole - Bernard Haissly (SUI214). Event website