Allen RS Feva Worlds – Most perfect week ever!

by Golly Tucker on 30 Jul 2010 Allen RS Feva Worlds, day four update: Forecast: three to five knots – reality: full on sea-breeze of 14 knots at start of first race and building throughout afternoon to a solid 18-20 knots.

From the quietest day of the week to the most full on in one quick flash of sunshine. With one day to go this has just been the most perfect week ever. We’ll still be drooling this winter with the memories of it when we try to warm the cockles of our hearts when breaking the ice of our boats somewhere in the shires.

With the wind pumping and the shifts almost non-existent it was all about getting of the start line. With the RO, Tony O’Gorman, having gone to immediate black flag starts after the over-eagerness shown by the Gold fleet yesterday; there may have been a certain hesitation in pulling the trigger. Pull the trigger early and that would have been a BFD. Pull it one to two seconds late and top 20 was virtually out of reach. Three to four seconds late and 50th was a pipedream. That made some sight on the line. 70 boats all lined up from committee boat to pin with no second row. It was do or die.

Owen Bowerman and Charlie Darling (GBR)had two more top 10’s but also knocked out a 16th which is now discarded. That was the chink that Jack Hawkins and Chris Thomas (GBR)needed. As before they had a poor first race of the day but then scored a bullet and a second. Only three points separate these two and it is believed at time of writing that Hawkins/Thomas survived a start-line protest as well.

Big lead though to third and fourth who are a full 23 and 25 points behind respectively. Good cheer for the Emerald isle though as Vicky Cudmore and Amy Harrington (IRL)now occupy the podiums third step (and top ladies)and Dermot Lyden and Peter Stokes (IRL)are fourth.

Harry Bowerman and GeorgeThompson (GBR) are making good on talent and are fifth (not bad for one family – two in the top five) whilst Brendan Lyden and Marc Cudmore are sixth (oh this gets complicated another family with two in top six and oh yes, another with two in top six!- my head hursts!).

Douglas Afzelius and Hampus Gelang (SWE) had to discard their BFD in the day’s first race to none the less still be seventh. Two Italians are eight and ninth Matteo Pilati and Mattia Duchi, and second girls Veronica Maria Maccari and Marta Lenotti. Recovering after an average days yachting yesterday Rob and Emma Loveridge are the last into the top 10.

It is still all hugely close though in this fairly high scoring event with seven points covering fifth to 10th. A second discard kicks in after race seven tomorrow. Racing is scheduled to start at 12.00 tomorrow in an attempt to get the scheduled three races in. This needs the sea-breeze to co-operate!

The Silver fleet is currently led by the five majors Italian Luca Carlini and Stefano Costini with a narrow five point lead over Swedes Simon Karlsson and Mans Olander who in turn have six points on Viktor Hogbom and Torre Wallden (SWE). Then it is a very tight one pointer over William Hussey and Tom Oliver (GBR). Again the second discard will be a very interesting mixer!

Given the prizegiving is scheduled for tomorrow evening we should be able to guarantee full results tomorrow.

For more information, please go to: www.rsfeva.org/worlds