Australian Moth Nationals - Another day with the waves at Mornington
by Leigh Dunstan on 13 Jan 2012
Australian Moth National Titles 2012 Kylie Dunstan
KA Sails Australian Moth National Titles 2012 - Mornington presented the fleet with varied and challenging conditions for the fourth day of the regatta.
Race seven started in light winds, although the fleet was still sailing on the foils up the first windward leg. The wind shifts up the first leg were enormous and the fleet was completely mixed with some of the top sailors well down in the fleet, and some of the sailors used to taking up places towards the back end were doing well to hang in with the leaders. Conditions ranged between 5 – 10 knots form the southwest.
Rob Gough came through with the win, with Andrew Mcdougall and James Owen-Smith taking second and third. In between races the fleet was battered by a rain squall and race eight started in 15-18 knots form the South-west. Again conditions were shifty and at times the breeze dropped to almost zero knots.
Peter Burling finished first, from Andrew Mcdougall and Rob Gough in third.
Prior to race nine, the breeze filled in to 15-20 knots from the west and the seas quickly grew. The fleet is now becoming accustom to large waves but nothing could prepare the sailors for what they faced as they rounded the top mark. The top mark was set just of the pier, Where the wave patter was very confused and seas were close to 1-1.5m with gusts hovering around 20 knots. As a sailor you sit two meters above the water. Add the trough of the wave and imagine sailing at 20-25 knots of boat speed. Put these factors together and it equals a very scary combination with more capsizes and carnage.
Peter Burling did well to take the win from Scott Babbage and Andy Mcdougall.
Race 10 had conditions similar to race nine with the sea state still building. Scott Babbage won the race from Peter Burling and Andrew Mcdougall who did well to record 30 knots of boatspeed as he finished.
Current overall standings:
1st Rob Gough
2nd Scott Babbage
3rd Peter Burling
Tomorrow is the final day of racing. Stay tuned for the final results.
