Etchells Worlds Day 2 – Canadian win

by Rob Kothe on 7 Sep 2005 A much more conservative approach to the start line for the 72 boats in the 2005 Etchells Worlds today, after race officials handed out 10 tickets to the OCS brigade yesterday.

Today two training partners, Canadian Hank Lammens and Marblehead sailor Judd Smith, came out on top.

It was a family affair for Lammens, a former Canadian National Hockey league player and Canadian Finn sailor, who sailed in Barcelona. Over last year's Christmas Pudding, he challenged his elder brother Mark to sail at the Etchells Worlds in San Francisco, with him. But there was a little matter of 45 pounds.

As Mark explained today, ‘He had me reading the South Beach diet book - I lost 45 pounds, ten pounds in the last week!’

So far the sacrifice has been worthwhile. Yesterday the two brothers, along with fellow Finn sailor Doug Sabin finished sixth, and today they sailed to a narrow win.

The fleet was gunned away on the Berkeley circle, with a wind direction of 215 in 20 knots. The windward mark, 2.5 miles up the course, was just west of the transit to Alcatraz.

San Deigo sailor Jeff Pape, one of the top performer OCS’ers yesterday, won the start.

Pape explained the early part of today’s race. ‘We had a pretty good start, after yesterday's events, everyone seemed to be sailing quite conservatively and there were some pretty big holes. We were away fast.

‘A nice little left shift came through soon after the start, we consolidated right and then it was a drag race to the right hand side. As we approached the top mark, Judd Smith had to duck us and we rounded first.

'At the bottom of the run, the wind went left ten degrees and we were on the wrong side and both Judd and Hank Lammen slid through us.’

Judd Smith explained further. ‘We‘d been a little late at the start, we ducked a few sterns and cleared to the right and we were in pretty good shape as was Hank, who was flushed out too.

'We had two good runs and held onto the lead, extending it to over 30 seconds but Hank was attacking us down the run.

'At the bottom we had to pick a gate, which ever gate we took, Hank was going to take the other one. We picked the wrong one.'

Lammens has another take. 'Our win on the last beat was set up by the run. We’d gained a little on the run, we showed one way, he went the same way, and then we went the other way. We picked up a 15 degree shift and we just crossed 50 yards from the finish line.’

The battle continues tomorrow, with stronger winds and colder air forecast.

More photos by Chuck Lantz: www.chucklantz.com

Full results at www.sfetchells.org/worlds