Moth World Championship- Calm wind foils Moth Worlds fleet

by Alan Block on 15 Oct 2013 An eight-knot easterly breeze swept through Kaneohe Bay just after noon today, providing a glimmer of hope for Day 1 of the 2013 McDougall + Maconaghy Moth World Championship fleet despite a dire forecast.

With conditions forecast to build slightly throughout the day, Race Officer Tom Pochoreva and his Kaneohe Yacht Club-based team jumped on the chance for a solid race between two squalls shortly after 1230 PM.

2013 McDougall + McConaghy International Moth World Championship Day 1 from US Moth Class on Vimeo.

'The fleet was foiling around and sailing fast for a while, but when the wind started to die we realized we couldn’t get a fair race in and we pulled the plug,' said Pochoreva. 'Things are looking better and better for the rest of the week, and we’re looking forward to some great action tomorrow.'

Proving the conventional wisdom accurate, the British contingent showed strong speed in the light air, with Robert Greenhalgh and Tom Offer trading the lead around the course despite leaving the start line nearly three minutes late. 'I was a bit confused about the course signals and ended up very late for the start,' said Greenhalgh, who at one point was nearly a half leg ahead of the next competitor even after giving the fleet a head start. 'The boat is going really well, and I was able to get on the foils and stay there after much of the fleet dropped down into low-riding mode.'

Tuesday’s weather outlook has improved significantly, with most models showing more wind than previously forecast. 'We’re looking at around eight to ten knots tomorrow, with up to 12 knots on Thursday,' said an optimistic Pochereva.

For a breakdown of the likely Top Ten for this year’s Worlds fleet, check two-time World Champ Simon Payne’s insightful breakdown of the Moth Worlds fleet click here. You can find names, sail numbers, and origin for each competitor by clicking here .

Racing begins at 1200 tomorrow, with up-to-the-minute coverage on the Facebook Page