2010 Contender Worlds Day 2- Its tough out there says The Master

All in a row - Race 4 Day 2 Contender Worlds Championships Contender Worlds 2010 http://www.contenderworlds2010.com

Now thats close racing - Day 2 Contenders Worlds © Contender Worlds 2010 http://www.contenderworlds2010.com

Current World Champion and early event leader, Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11) started half way down the line and led a group of Contenders out to the right side of the course in softening conditions.

Australian Champion Matt Mulder (AUS2408) led Steven Grimes (AUS2179), German sailor Christoph Homeier (GER551) and Bonezzi at the top mark.

Then as they came on the reach to the wing mark, the breeze dropped to eight or nine knots, so sailors were not on trapezes. Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron sailor Steven Grimes soaked down inside the course and rounded the wing mark with pressure.

Homeier rounded in second, with Bonezzi close behind. Mulder, who had done so well early in the race, fell back into sixth place, the conditions being just too light for big Matt.

Reaching down towards the bottom mark, the middle of the fleet were up on trapezes as the breeze freshened.

At the bottom mark Grimes had extended his lead, from Homeier and Bonezzi. Jono Neate (AUS2323) was fourth with yesterday’s second race winner Simon Mussell (GBR 2420) on his hammer.

The breeze was back to seven or eight knots at the top of the course and the lightweight Grimes began to sail away with the race. At the top mark he held a ten boat length advantage over Homeier. Mussell came in fast on the port lay line but was slow on the tack and Bonezzi sailed inside him.

At the bottom mark for the last time, Mussell had overtaken Bonezzi. Neate was still holding onto fifth place.

Grimes crossed the line first, with Homeier, Mussell and Neate following him. Bonezzi finished fifth and Mulder sixth.

Winner Steven Grimes grinned ‘I started mid line, I worked the middle of the course and just played the shifts up the first beat, then I stayed low on the first reach and that’s what really did it.’

Three boats were OCS with another DNF.

Top Five places in Race 3:
1. Steven Grimes (AUS2179)
2. Christoph Homeier (GER551)
3. Simon Mussell (GBR2420)
4. Jono Neate (AUS2323)
5. Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11)

Race 4

A clear start.

Christoph Homeier (GER551) and Steven Grimes (AUS2179) went right from mid line with Grimes best placed. Homier hit the right hand corner hard.

Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11) was further down the line and with Simon Mussell (GBR2420), went left to the first shift. Bonezzi then led the fleet back from the left.

At the first mark however it was Grimes who led Bonezzi, with Geoff Fisher (AUS2468) third. Homeier was buried in the 20’s.

As he did in the first race, Grimes was soaking low with speed and was first to the wing mark ahead of Bonezzi, Neate (AUS2323) and Fisher. Matt Mulder was having centreboard problems and dropped from around sixth to 16th at the wing.

By the top mark with just one lap to go, the seven times World Champion Bonezzi had fought his way back to a powerful position and was six boat lengths clear of Grimes. Jono Neate was close behind Grimes, with a further four boat lengths back to Fisher. It was still light, eight to nine knots at the mark.

With just one beat to go, Bonezzi was ahead of Neate, Grimes and Fisher. The lead group had gapped the fleet.

At the bottom mark for the last time Bonezzi headed right towards Lota Creek, well clear of Neate.

The Master had returned. Bonezzi crossed ahead of Neate, Fisher and Grimes. Gary Langdon (GBR2421) was fifth.

Bonezzi was well pleased. ‘Race four was much better than the race three. I had a better race. It’s getting tougher out there. There are some very good sailors here and they continue to get better. In Denmark we had 120 boats, but this fleet is now stronger.

'Now there seem to more boats of very similar speed; you pass them, they pass you. Jono (Neate) and Christoph (Homeier) are especially physical. I am hanging in there, but the younger guys do have an advantage.

'But ….it's very good racing and wonderful weather.'



1. Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11)
2. Jono Neate (AUS2323)
3. Geoff Fisher (AUS2468)
4. Steven Grimes (AUS2179)
5. Gary Langdon (GBR2421)

Contender Worlds fleet Race 3 on Day 2 © Contender Worlds 2010 http://www.contenderworlds2010.com

Second overall after four races is Australian Jono Neate, who was second behind Bonezzi in Denmark. He'd had a trapeze problem yesterday which probably cost him five places. Today he said ‘No gear breakages, no excuses. Pleased to be in second place overall. It’s not easy... I am pretty knackered now. I did really well on the reaches today but there is still a long way to go.’

Geoff Fisher from the RQYS fleet is third overall. 'I enjoyed today's races; my seventh and my third. It was a beautiful day out there.' He was smiling as he said ‘Still a little too much pressure for me - the big guys seem to hold onto the waves better. In the second race four of us broke clear and then Steven (Grimes) clawed his way back and ended up fourth.'

Sitting in fourth after four races Christoph Homeier still looks fresh. ‘In race three I managed to sail through Andrea (Bonezzi) and Simon (Mussell) into second. Then I sailed a little conservatively to hold my second. I screwed up the start badly in race four; I went right and was 20+ at the top mark. I was probably lucky to finish 12th.'

The Pre-World’s winner, Australian Champion and Event Organiser Matt Mulder said 'I just did not sail very well today. I had a breakage on the first reach, my centreboard would not stay down. I had to stop and fix it. I was probably 15th by the wing mark but climbed back a little.'

So the leader board is settling as expected. However while Steven Grimes is currently back in 12th place, carrying his second race OCS, after a drop his 4, 1, 4 will look good and he could be amongst the leaders.

At 80kg he is a little on the light side but if conditions ease as expected, he could be a podium Contender.

Top Five places in Race 4
1. Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11)
2. Jono Neate (AUS2323)
3. Geoff Fisher (AUS2468)
4. Steven Grimes (AUS2179)
5. Gary Langdon (GBR2421)