ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne – Yet another flavour on day 3

by Event Media on 5 Dec 2013 At the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne, competitors have been treated to a third weather pattern in three days.

After a day of very mixed weather conditions yesterday, almost too many to count, following the champagne sailing conditions of the first day of the regatta, today is another flavour again. The rain arrived mid-morning and forced the postponement of the first session of racing, due to poor visibility.

Overcast conditions and frequent rain showers are expected to invade the race courses until at least mid-afternoon.

The breeze initially started in the north – the offshore direction of the first day - but shifted south and settled in as forecast at around 15kts, with a building seaway.

The postponement flag was flown at 11.00am then dropped an hour later, meaning that racing will be attempted from 1.00pm.

When racing does get underway it will be the 470 Men and Women, Finn, 49er, 49erFX, Laser and Laser Radial who will race in the first session of the day.

The second flight of classes being the Paralympic classes, RS: X Men and Women and Nacra 17 were scheduled to start racing at 3.00pm, but that may be delayed depending on progress in the earlier delayed session.

Principal Race Officer Ross Wilson had plenty on his plate and was quick to comment, 'It’s a race officers nightmare, the wind is not the issue, it’s the cells coming across that are the worry. But we are ever hopeful today.’

Conditions are expected to be very testing for the competitors, with cold temperatures, a fresh breeze and big cold, confused grey Event website