5.5m IC World Championship - No wind, rain and no racing on day 3

by Tessa Wiechmann on 25 Sep 2014 After yesterday’s great conditions, racing on the third day of the 5.5m World Championship 2014 was abandoned today in Porto Santo Stefano due to lack of wind.

Back on land, sailors found 10 kilos of steaming pasta with zucchini, eggplant and tomato sauce accompanied by cold beers waiting for them at the Race Village. In the evening competitors enjoyed dinner at the Tenuta Agricola dell'Uccellina an idyllic country estate set in the heart of Tuscany’s countryside nestled in the Maremma Natural Park.

The weather forecast for tomorrow, Thursday 25 September calls for cloudy skies and east-south-east breeze in the morning at 12-15 knots. In the afternoon, weather conditions should improve. The warning signal is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the Race Committee aims to complete three races.

Tuesday evening, the International 5.5m Class held its Annual General Meeting at the Yacht Club Santo Stefano. Members of the class discussed and voted on a number of technical matters such as headsails, use of GPS-based speedometers and future cup racing. 'The main topic of the AGM was a plan to encourage owners to build new boats and accompany this by promoting the class to the sailing community. We have formed a working group that will look into this matter,' stated Kaspar Stubenrauch, President of the International 5.5 Metre Class Association. The AGM also voted on 2016 World Championships that will take place in Copenhagen and hosted by the Royal Danish Yacht Club.

At 9a.m. thunderstorms and constant rain greeted competitors from Bahamas, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Italy at the skippers briefing. The Race Committee hoisted AP on shore in hope of better weather conditions later in the day. Shortly before 1p.m., the 37 crews left the docks and at 1.58 p.m., the fleet crossed the starting line on the Committee Boat end with a 6-knot breeze from east-north-east and poor visibility due to rain. Up the first beat, the fleet splits and at Mark 1 John B - Gavin McKinney (BAH19) is in the lead followed by Aubisque – Andre Perrin (SUI207) and by Duchess of B – Victorine Bredero (NED31) in third position. The wind drops considerably and rain increases as the fleet sails towards the leeward gate. The Race Committee announces that the race is abandoned as the boats make their way up the second beat and at 3.49 p.m. racing is abandoned for the day.

Racing continues until Friday, September 26 with a maximum of seven races to be completed in five days. A minimum of four completed races is necessary to constitute a championship. After six races have been completed the worst result shall be discarded. The Awards Ceremony will be held at the 16th century Spanish Fortress of Porto Santo Stefano in the late afternoon of Friday 26 September.

Results Overall:
1 - Artemis XIV – Kristian Nergaard (NOR57) (2-2/4pt)
2 - John B - Gavin McKinney (BAH19) (3-3/6pt)
3- Sinewave – Thomas Muller (GER82) (8-1/9pt)

The World Championship of the International 5.5 Metre Class is organized by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, with the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, the Province of Grosseto, and the Municipality of Monte Argentario and with the support of the Pro Loco of Porto Santo Stefano.
Event website