On day four of the 2012 Flying Dutchman World Championship at Santa Cruz Yacht Club, after a shoreside postponement due to lack of wind, boats were released from the harbour in sunshine for what proved to be a great day of racing with a good breeze for the second race.
After three General Recalls, two with an I flag, the Race officer lengthened the line and pulled out the Black Flag ... the fleet had a clean start! The wind was in the six to ten knot range from the SW.
At the end of the first round at the leeward mark Ralph Jambor and Jens Schreiber (GER 135) led with second Dirk Loewe and Sven Hermenau (GER 35); third Kay-Uwe Lüdtke and Kai Schäfers (GER 88), fourth Matthew Mitchell and Kim MacDonald (AUS 66); fifth Paul Scoffin/Pavel Ruzicka (NZL 145); sixth Peggy Bahr/Torsten Bahr (GER 19).
At the finish, GER 135 retained their lead and GER 88 was second with NZL 145 third and GER 35 fourth. Szabolcs Majthényi and András Domokos - HUN 70 were fifth.
The wind increased to 14-16 knots from the SW in the starting area as the boats returned for the start of race 4. The water was choppy with a swell and although most boats were still on clew one (on their genoa) as they were going into the first start sequence some changed to clew two and more did so as the wind built and chop increased.
The first start of the fourth race was with Flag I but a boat took the fleet over the line causing a General Recall and the next start with a Black Flag saw four boats BFD.
With the increased wind strength and crew stretched out the fleet quickly spread out. On the first reach nearly all the boats carried a spinnaker but the second reach which was tighter saw a lot of boats drop their kite after the gybe mark and a few capsize at the mark.
Enno Krammer and Ard Geelkerken - NED 26 and Szabolcs Majthényi and András Domokos - HUN 70 battled for the lead on the second reach and were well clear of the rest of the fleet.
At the leeward mark after the run Kilian König and Johannes Brack (GER 113) had closed the gap.
Once ashore competitors and volunteers enjoyed a tasty snack and a glass of beer in the Regatta marquee.
Provisional Results - Subject to Protest
Race 3 - First six to finish
1st Ralph Jambor and Jens Schreiber - GER 135, 2nd Dirk Loewe/Sven Hermenau - GER 35, 3rd Kay-Uwe Lüdtke/Kai Schäfers - GER 88, 4th Matthew Mitchell and Kim MacDonald - AUS 66 5th Paul Scoffin and Pavel Ruzicka - NZL 145 6th Peggy Bahr/Torsten Bahr - GER 19
Race 4 - First six to finish:
1st Szabolcs Majthényi and András Domokos - HUN 70 2nd Enno Krammer and Ard Geelkerken - NED 26 3rd Kilian König and Johannes Brack - GER 113 4th András Süli and David Papp - HUN 13 5th Kay-Uwe Lüdtke/Kai Schäfers - GER 88 6th Ralph Jambor and Jens Schreiber - GER 135
1st GER 88 - 13 pts 2nd HUN 70 - 17 pts 3rd NED 26 - 22 pts 4th GER 19 - 29 pts 5th HUN 13 - 34 pts 6th ITA 4 - 35 pts
The fifth race is scheduled for 1200hrs on Thursday 27 September.
