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Sail-World.com : Day 2 Techno Windsurfing National Champs

Day 2 Techno Windsurfing National Champs

'Alohkaa Pequeux leads Patrick Haybitle to the first mark - Techno Windsurfing Nationals' Brian Haybittle© Click Here to view large photo

Day 2's racing was delayed due to lack of wind. Many of the competitors took time out to relax, play guitar, have a swim or kick the soccer ball around.

While we waited we even managed to get the RS:X and Techno AGM underway. A great committee was elected and much talk of introducing an RS:X traveller series somehow tied up with the successful Techno Kendal Cup Series. Manu Goyard from New Caledonia talked extensively on the RRD FireRace 120ltr 'One Design' Slalom board adopted by the French Federation for teaching Slalom Racing. The class allows only two cambered sails up too 7.8m and aluminium booms only. Goyard is adamant Slalom racing and Techno Racing compliment each other. Maybe in the future we will see some combined Techno and Slalom events at yacht clubs and slalom events.

Once the AGM was complete and the light seabreeze settled the AP ashore Flag was dropped and the sailors headed out. Race four started in a 5 knt NE breeze. Again 1/3 of the fleet attempted to star on port tack at the Pin. There was some carnage of dropped sails and stopped boats and starboard right of way boards came through. Patrick Haybittle, Alohkaa Pequeux and Finn Croft led the charge to the top mark. The two kiwis on 6.8m sails proved that with great starts, clear air and hard out pumping they could keep up or ahead of most 7.8m sailors. Alohkaa won, Patrick managed a second and Alex Hart from Tauranga used his speed to catch up from an average start to take third.

Race 5 started and was abandoned about 3 minutes after the start as the wind died completely. The race was reset fairly quickly and got under way in 10kts. Most started conservatively on starboard tack having learnt that port tack starts don't always pay and can get ugly real quick. Local sailor Finn Croft sailed a flawless race leading from start to finish. He nailed the pin and got out to the only wind out left. The centre and right of the course died as the sailors got to the top mark. The wind got extremely patchy and marginally sailable. The experienced sailors knew that it is sport and to 'Play to the whistle' In this case the race was shortened and finished at the bottom gate after one lap. A group of sailors decided it was quicker to get to the finish by dropping their rigs onto their boards and paddling. These guys later were DSQ'ed or Retired from racing.

So Day 2 was completed and so far a series has been complete. Hopefully Huey will bring some more wind for the final day. The sailors had a fun day at beautiful Manly Beach.

by Brian Haybittle

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9:38 AM Sat 18 Feb 2012 GMT

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