SB20 World Championships - Double bullet taken on day 3

by Katie Jackson on 12 Sep 2013

Foam Up on Day 3 of the Audi Sb20 World Championships 2013 Katie Jackson/SB20 Class

At the Audi SB20 World Championships in Hyeres, France, it was another early start for the 90 strong SB20 fleet. The Race Committee set the course even further to the right hand side of the Baie de Iles d’ Or to shelter from the 'Big Wednesday' forecast of 30 plus knots of wind.

Anticipating the arrival of the mistral, racing was underway on time; even the fleet managed to behave themselves and stay behind the start line for the first race of the day. However, the forecast wind did not arrive and the fleet tacked their way up the course in a very gentle six knots. Stephen Fries (AUS) arrived at the top mark at the head of the fleet with Phil Plumtree (GBR), Pietro Negri (ITA) and Edward Russo (FRA) in tow. In the light conditions and a spreader mark set too low, a number of the fleet hoisted their gennakers early. By the leeward mark a shuffling of the fleet saw Russo in the lead with Rodion Luka (UKR) hot on his heels followed by Sebastien Col (FRA) in third place. Assuming normal form, Luka picked his way through the fleet to emerge the victor of the fifth race of the Championships. Thomas Rouxel (FRA) muscled his way into second position, leaving Col third and Russo fourth.

Charging downwind at the Audi Sb20 World Championships 2013 © Katie Jackson/SB20 Class

Following a break in racing to reposition the course, the mistral, as promised, arrived in full force. In the increased pressure, the fleet were recalled twice before a start was got away. Andrew Oddie (GBR) grabbed the premium pin position at the port end of the line in a fabulous manoeuvre that saw him shoot off the line with great boat speed.

But again it was Luka rounding the first mark in poll position, with Adrian Peach (GBR) and his junior crew of 29er sailors in hot pursuit. Luka defended his lead and went on to win what was to be the final race of the day as the pressure increased to beyond sailable conditions.

'I’m hungry and I’m tired,' said Luka as he returned to the dock. 'It was a hard day today, really tactical racing. On the first downwind leg [of race one] we ripped our kite on the drop, Andre did a great job changing the sail. We are really happy with our results and our boat speed.' When pushed for his thoughts on where the overall result might go, Luka said, 'To the wire, the last race of the event will decide the Champion.'

So there we have it, five races down in the Audi SB20 World Championships. The competition is impressive. With one discard now applied, Craig Burlton (GBR) still leads the fleet with 12 points, but Rodion Luka has closed the gap with today’s double bullet performance.

90 boat start at the Audi Sb20 World Championships 2013 © Katie Jackson/SB20 Class

Light winds race one day three at the Audi Sb20 World Championships 2013 © Katie Jackson/SB20 Class

Windward Mark rounding at the Audi Sb20 World Championships 2013 © Katie Jackson/SB20 Class

Rodion Luka (UKR) at the Audi Sb20 World Championships 2013 © Katie Jackson/SB20 Class

SB20 after 6 races ( Discards : 1 ) (90 entries)

Top of Form

Pos	Sail	Competitors	P Net	P tot	r.1	r.2	r.3	r.4	r.5	r.6	Club/Country
1	3042	GILL RACE TEAM BURLTON Craig WHITE Stephen HELEY Adam	12.00	25.00	2 2.00	1 1.00	2 2.00	3 3.00	13 13.00	4 4.00	RSYC - -
2	3703	KIEV RACING YACHT CLUB RODION Luka MATVVIENKO Igor KLOCHKO Andrew STEPANOVA Anna	16.00	47.00	1 1.00	6 6.00	7 7.00	31 31.00	1 1.00	1 1.00	KRYC - - -
3	3620	MARY VICKY DAINSE Massimo BIANCHI Nicolo NEGRI Pietro	35.00	45.00	10 10.00	9 9.00	1 1.00	10 10.00	10 10.00	5 5.00	ITALIE - -
4	3469	RACE AHEAD HUDSON Roger ASENATHI Jim WADI Xamimpi SIBU Siaztu	38.00	129.00	3 3.00	BFD 91.00	3 3.00	11 11.00	19 19.00	2 2.00	RCYC - - -
5	3093	PISCINE DESJOYAUX BERNAZ Laurent BERNAZ Jean baptiste LECLAIR Xavier	39.00	53.00	14 14.00	RDG 9.00	11 11.00	2 2.00	6 6.00	11 11.00	C O Y C HYEROIS CN Sainte-Maxime C V MARTIGUES
6	3709	TEAM NIKA PROSIHIN Vladimirr BASALKIN Artem MARTEMIANOV Alexander	44.00	79.00	35 35.00	5 5.00	19 19.00	4 4.00	8 8.00	8 8.00	YCSP - -
7	3580	ENORITO ROUXEL Thomas PERON Eric LEMAITRE Nolwenn PUILL STEPHAN Eneour	47.00	71.00	6 6.00	24 24.00	15 15.00	RDG 15.00	2 2.00	9 9.00	AN PORT-BLANC C N LOCTUDY E V LOCQUIREC -
8	3717	SPORTBOATWORLD. HILL Jerry LOVERING Richaard WATSON Craig	47.00	69.00	4 4.00	8 8.00	5 5.00	19 19.00	11 11.00	22 22.00	RSYC - -
9	3082	HENRI-LLOYD/FORELLE ESTATES LLEWELLYN Joe WAKEFIELD Nigel VIGUS Jerry	51.00	142.00	7 7.00	BFD 91.00	17 17.00	1 1.00	14 14.00	12 12.00	RSYC - -
10	3653	FFVOILE COL Sebastien LE TUAUD Guillaume HENRY Fabien	53.00	144.00	DNF 91.00	10 10.00	22 22.00	12 12.00	3 3.00	6 6.00	YC POINTE ROUGE APCC VOILE SPORTIVE C O Y C HYEROIS
11	3287	SHARKBAIT DUNCAM Ben TURMER Joe MACSWEEMY Aidam	58.00	83.00	9 9.00	12 12.00	25 25.00	9 9.00	15 15.00	13 13.00	ISA - -
12	3708	MELSTON TEAM MURASHKIN Alexey IGNATENKO Egor FROLOV Kirill	60.00	100.00	5 5.00	4 4.00	40 40.00	21 21.00	9 9.00	21 21.00	YCSP - -
13	3706	BLACK MAGIC RUSSO Edward PONSOT Pierre alexis FAVENNEC Gilles	64.00	116.00	52 52.00	17 17.00	4 4.00	29 29.00	4 4.00	10 10.00	C N VALERIQUAIS S N O NANTES SN ST QUAY PORTRIEUX
14	3336	UBER 3 PEACH Adrian PARTRIGE Rob BOWERMAN Owen WALKER Philip	67.00	107.00	40 40.00	3 3.00	18 18.00	14 14.00	29 29.00	3 3.00	RTYC - - -
15	3044	XCELLENT POLLARD Jhon SMITH Rob SCHWARZ Mickey	68.00	109.00	41 41.00	2 2.00	29 29.00	6 6.00	16 16.00	15 15.00	RTYC - -