Audi Etchells World Day 2 - David Clark wins

by Rob Kothe on 19 Nov 2006
Pittwater sailor Dave Clark opened a big margin on the 70 boat fleet in the second race of the 2006 Audi Etchells Worlds to record an 82 second win against the 70 boat fleet. In second place was overall series leader Jud Smith (AUS)and in third Rob Brown (AUS). Briton's Andy Beadsworth finished in fourth to consolidate his second place overall.

A better day for the British competitors with Barry Parkin with Mike Till and Bill Masterman finishing in sixth and Ante Razmilovic, Jez Fanstone and Stuart Flinn in ninth. Double champion Stuart Childerly with Simon Russell and Roger Marino, was back in the hunt with an 11th in the second race.

Clark who is now in sixth overall, was a trimmer aboard the New Zealand boat in 1987 off Fremantle and was tactician aboard the Australian boat in San Diego in 1992. He campaigned a Soling up to the 2000 Olympics.

The 70 boat Audi Etchells Worlds fleet was away at the scheduled 11am start for race two on Owens Anchorage, just off Fremantle. The wind direction was 245 and the first leg length was three miles.

The bulk of the fleet, probably two thirds, was on the starboard end of the line but they then went left. Three boats were OCS. The breeze was wobbling a little around 240 to 245. As the fleet worked up the beat, it seemed that the boats that went hard right and stayed right suffered; the best course seemed to be to work the shifts up the middle of the course.

Hayling Island Etchells sailor Barry Parkins, the 2003 Flying Fifteen Worlds Champion and dual Soling class Olympian, led the fleet around the first mark in race two.

Behind him came Dave Clark from Pittwater, then a 30 second gap back to 2006 Australian champion Rob Brown, with yesterday’s winner Jud Smith fourth. Andy Beadsworth was sixth on the water, ahead of Mark Bulka and Craig Healy.

Down the run the wind built slowly to 12-15 knots and the fleet was spread wide across the course. Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson was pleased to see boats gybing across the course, indicating it was a very fair run.

Dave Clark surged into the lead on that run, ahead of Michael Manford who had surfed from fifth, with Parkin a boat length behind. Rob Brown had slipped back to fourth, while Chris Busch gained four places to sixth. Julian Plante had a booming run, closing from 13th to seventh, with Childerley following moving up from 14th to eighth.

There was a heavy black cloud over the edge of the course at the bottom and the pressure was up. On the beat, on the sunny end of the course the wind dropped and there were pressure holes.

Clark extended his lead up the beat. Barry Parkin was close to a minute behind, only two boat lengths ahead of Jud Smith. Julian Plante moved forward in the fleet now four or fifth.

Clark led the fleet hard left. It would have required gear failure for him to be beaten in this battle back up to the windward mark and to the finish.

Dave Clark received the gun, 82 seconds ahead of Jud Smith, who is now leading the regatta.

In third place was Michael Manford who must be worried that his proximity to the start line might cause some issues.

Next behind him was the Australian 2006 champion Rob Brown, much relieved after his 24th yesterday.

Another great result for Andy Beadsworth, who was second to Stuart Childerly at the European titles but Beadsworth seems to have stepped up a level in this regatta and he is now second overall.

Julian Plante was less than a boat length back in sixth place. With Michael Coxon on main, much is expected of the North Sydney boat. Barry Parkin was next, just three seconds ahead of Chris Busch who is now in third place overall.

Leading positions after 2 races:

1 USA 1061 - Feng Shui Jud Smith/Dirk Kneulman/Andrew Wills/Thomas Saunders 1( 1) 2( 2) 3pts
2 GBR 1187 - Anam Chara Andy Beadsworth/James McHugh/Simon Fry 3( 3) 4( 4) 7
3 USA 969 - Happy Ending Chris Busch/Rod Hagebols/Willem van Waay 7( 7) 7( 7) 14
4 AUS 117- Fast Harry (NSW) Cameron Miles/Phil Smidmore/Dave Samson 4( 4) 14( 14) 18
5 GBR 1333 - Swedish Blue Ante Razmilovic/Jez Fanstone/Stuart Flinn 9( 9) 9( 9) 18
6 AUS 1131 - Humpback (NSW) David Clark/Stephen Barlow/Andrew Smith 19( 19) 1( 1) 20
7 NZL 950 - Velsheda Alastair Gair/David Ridley/Carl Peters/Derek Scott 2( 2) 23( 23) 25
8 AUS 1321 - Triad (VIC) John Bertrand/Ian Johnson/Tim Ede 10( 10) 17( 17) 27
9 AUS 1244 - Dr Evil (VIC) Jake Gunther/Russell Tyson/Richard Ironmonger 12( 12) 15( 15) 27
10 AUS 1254 - North Sydney (NSW) Julian Plante/Michael Coxon/Nick Garland/Matt Day 25( 25) 5( 5) 30
11 AUS 1277 - Critical Balance (VIC) Mark Bulka/Stewart Nichols/Steve Young 18( 18) 13( 13) 31
12 AUS 1088 - Sun Tzu (NSW) Roger Hickman/Phillip Endersbee/Peter Inchbold 22( 22) 10( 10) 32
13 AUS 866 (WA) Murray Smith/Brad Sheridan/Barrie Sturgeon 6( 6) 27( 27) 33
14 AUS 1326 - Steampacket VI (NSW) Rob Brown/Bruce Wookey/Garry Gudmunson 33( 33) 3( 3) 36
15 GBR 987 - Bedrock Stuart Childerley/Simon Russell/Roger Marino 27( 27) 11( 11) 38
16 AUS 1317 - Una Mas (QLD) Mark Bradford/Graeme Taylor/Steve Jarvin 5( 5) 34( 34) 39
17 GBR 1325 - Festina2 Barry Parkin/Mike Till/Bill Masterman 35( 35) 6( 6) 41
18 AUS 883 - Tusk (WA) Gary Smith/Mark Lovelady/Mick McAulley 23( 23) 22( 22) 45
19 HKG 105 - Quest Mark Thornburrow/Gray Gibson/Mark Parker 31( 31) 16( 16) 47
20 AUS 916 - Daylight Robbery (WA) Alastair McMichael/Richard Edinger/Andrew McAullay 30( 30) 19( 19) 49
21 USA 1153 - Junkyard Dog Joseph Bainton/Ched Proctor/Tod Raynor 42( 42) 8( 8) 50
22 GBR 992 - China White Andrew Cooper/David Heritage/George Cooper 17( 17) 33( 33) 50
23 AUS 1289 - Two Palms & a Hammock (WA) Peter Chappell/Sam Gill/Michael Hughes 29( 29) 21( 21) 50
24 GBR 1332 - Gerlert David Bedford/Phil Lawrence/Jonathon Taylor 34( 34) 18( 18) 52
25 AUS 1320 - Rhapsody in Blue (WA) Rob Bird/Graeme Johnson/Nic Gray 28( 28) 25( 25) 53