Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2011 Race 9 – Nerone and Transfusion battling
by www.Sail-World.com on 26 Feb 2011
NERONE and TRANFUSION leading the fleet - Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo
http://www.regattanews.com
Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2011 final day, Saturday 26th.
After eight races World Champions Massimo Mezzaroma and Antonio Sodo Migliori's Nerone was a single point ahead of Guido Belgiorno-Nettis Transfusion.
Blazing blue skies for the last day of the Australian summer seven-eights knots.
PRO Peter Reggio set a course with leg length of 1.8 miles for race 9 at 040 degrees.
Another superb start from the Italian team with some great tactical calls from Vasco Vascotto. Nerone was first to the starboard lay line. She rounded three lengths ahead of Helmut Jahn’s Flash Gordon, Marcus Blackmore’s Hooligan, Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad, Wolfgang Schaefer’s Struntje Light, Lang Walker’s Kokomo, Damien King’s Southern Star, Martin and Lisa Hill’s Estate Master and Transfusion.
The breeze has lifted to 12 knots at the top mark, another perfect hoist and their lead began extending; the defending champions were going to be very difficult to beat from here.
Down the first run Nerone extended and was 100 metres ahead at the bottom mark. Flash Gordon was still second with Barking Mad third and Transfusion moving forward.
Up the second beat Nerone maintained her lead playing the middle of the course, ahead of Flash Gordon, Barking Mad and Transfusion. Breeze has softened back to 8-9 knots.
John Kostecki aboard Transfusion was trying to find a way to sail past Barking Mad and he did.
Transfusion tacked back to the right earlier than Barking Mad and Flash Gordon. Finding more pressure she sailed into second place.
Down the run Nerone gained pace again, she stormed away extending her lead to 200 metres.
Behind her Transfusion was now trying to hold off William Douglass' Goombay Smash, with James Spithill calling tactics and Helmut Jahn's Flash Gordon.
It would all go down to the last gybe.
Nerone got the gun, from Transfusion. Third across the line was Goombay Smash, then Flash Gordon, Barking Mad, Hooligan, Southern Star, Estate Master, Kokomo and Brett Neill's White Cloud.
The Championship lead for the Italians is now two points, with just one race left to be sailed. Race 10 start is just a few minutes away.
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