Australian 9er Championships - Waves manageable on Day 5
by David Staley on 3 Jan 2014
The FX fleet gets a clean start - Australian 29er / 49er & 49er FX Australian Championships David Price
In the Australian 9er Championships the 29er, 49er, and 49er FX classes returned to the waters of Port Phillip off Brighton today after a rest day on January 1st. A fine but overcast day, the breezes were 8 -14 knots from the south-east, keeping the waves manageable.
The 29ers were the first off the water today after completing three races. Charlie Wyatt and Tom Siganto (QLD) have held their position at the top of the table, but with a lead reduced to eight points. Kurt Hansen and Harry Morton (NSW) remain second – also with an eight point buffer on Jim Colley and Shaun O’Connor (NSW) in third.
From Race Officer Tony Outteridge’s perspective, the 29er fleet was better behaved today, with less general recalls and not as many black flags required – just the one. Competition was just as keen as it has been over the previous three days, and no closer that at the race to the finish line.
The short final reach from the leeward gate has crews agonising over if and when to drop the kite, whether to come across high and gybe onto starboard, or to soak down and drop then shy reach up to the line. The result has been some close and exciting finishes with different tactics coming into play over the final few metres.
Steven Thomas and Jasper Warren (WA) now hold a reduced four point lead in the 49ers after four races were completed for the 49ers this afternoon. Will Phillips and Rhys Mara (VIC) have made their move today, rising into second place. A single point separates them from David Gilmour and Sam Phillips (WA).
In the 49er FX competition, Tessa Parkinson and Chelsea Hall (WA) won the last three races today and havenow established a clear nine point break that will be impossible to claw back with just two races remaining.
Olivia Price and Eliza Solly (NSW/VIC) won the first race this afternoon, but an OCS in race 10 followed by a DNF and a fourth has allowed Parkinson and Hall to build their buffer. Hayley Outteridge and Ella Clark (NSW) have moved back into third ahead of Harry Price and Angus Williams (NSW) who dropped two races this afternoon with gear failure.
Tomorrow is the final day of the Zhik 2013-14 Australian 9er Championships at Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
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