New Zealander wins Race 6 Audi Etchells Worlds report

by Al Constable/ Rob Kothe on water on 23 Nov 2006 Day 6 of the Audi Etchells Worlds and young New Zealand sailor Alastair Gair has snatched victory on the final beat from John Betrand who was leading at the bottom mark.

Here is the story of the race as it unfolded.

Race 6 in the Audi Etchells Worlds has just started in 20 knots of breeze, under beautiful blue skies. Start was at 210, one boat OCS.

Doug Flynn from the Cowes fleet, on Wobbegong started on the pin and Peter McNeil from Lake Macquarie, the 2004 Worlds Champion, came below the line to get speed and is currently vying for the lead. Ian Anderson on Seven P's, was coming up fast from the second row as was local Swan River Fleet sailor and current National Champion, Skip Lissiman on Bandwagon.

As the head to the first mark, there's a good strong breeze blowing with good wind waves. Spectators witnessed a great start.

Bow 77, Jud Smith the series leader, had his fourth crew member sitting on the bow calling the start line for him. They timed their cross perfectly and were well placed as they headed up the course.

Most of the fleet is still on starboard tack.

John Bertrand leads the fleet around the top mark in a freshening breeze. Then comes Ante Razmilovic with Alastair Gair just four seconds behind. Noel Drennan from the Blairgowrie fleet is about three boats lengths further back, with Mark Bradford, Jud Smith, Craig Healy and Michael Manford.

The only female skipper in the fleet, Geelong's Mary Hanna is in ninth less than a boat length behind Manford. Andy Beadsworth completed the first ten rounding the mark.

Down the run Judd Smith is coming down the left hand side of the course in about seventh and this side seems to be favoured. These boats are coming through fast.

Bertrand has a lead of 100 metres on the second boat, Ante Razmilovic in quite a seaway.

Bertrand is first round the left hand pin and Gair has made up ground to round second. Razmilovic in third just three seconds behind Gair. then Drennan, Healy and current National Etchells Champion Lissiman. Lissiman has moved up from 15th at the last mark. Bradford, Childerleyand Bulka follow, with Jud Smith losing ground and falling back into tenth.

The bulk of the fleet headed to the left hand pin and continued on left.

Jake Gunther, from Melbourne on Dr Evil has retired.

Back to the top mark again, the pressure continues to build and there has been a course change from 210 to 215 as PRO Denis Thompson squares the course. Bertrand has had his lead slashed by six boat lengths by the young New Zealander Gair, Razmilovic has also closed up. Then there's a large gap back to Noel 'Nitro' Drennan and the American Craig Healy who is only a boat length behind him. Another a minute back to Mark Bulka.

Lissiman who was sixth at the last mark, must have had gear problems, he is now 27th.

Regatta leader Jud Smith has held onto tenth, the best he can do from here would be sixth.

Royal Geelong's Mary Hanna lost seven places down the run but she has held on well up the beat to round in 16th place.

Hayling Island sailor Barry Parkin is 19th, San Diego sailor Chris Busch is not having his best day at 22nd and Julian Plante, hurting after yesterday's OCS, is 25th.

The gap is closing round the botton mark and Bertrand is now only two boat lengths ahead of Gair. Razmilovic has fallen back but is still in third place. The gap back to fourth placed Noel Drennan is now almost two minutes. Craig Healy is still fifth, Mark Bradford has moved up to eighth, Cameron Miles is now ninth and Beadsworth has slipped to tenth. The series leader Jud Smith is now eleventh.

Wind speed has built to 26 knots at the finish line. The leaders are now 400 metres from the finish line and it hard to tell who is leading. Bertrand is leeward and Gair looks like he has come up the centre and it will be interesting to see who gets the gun.

Over the line its Gair, Razmilovic and Bertrand crossed third.