Kiwi SKUD 18 Team- Day 1 and 2 update from the IFDS Worlds

by Tim Dempsey on 12 Jul 2010
The New Zealand SKUD18 team report from the IFDS Worlds in Medemblijk, Ntetherlands:

Day1, Race 1: We got off to a great start in light winds. At the top mark we were in fifth place ahead of some very experienced teams. On the downwind leg we sailed good angles, despite this we dropped back to seventh. After a change in course we made up two places on the upwind leg. On the final downwind run to the gate things did not quite go to plan and we ended up in a bit of a tussle with another boat that was so focused on luffing us that he ended up letting two boats get past both of us. We ended in eighth place and sixth country. After a protest against one of the Australian boats we were elevated to seventh place.

Day 1, Race 2: We had a less than ideal start which was very costly when racing against a very experienced fleet. We never really recovered from this in a dying light breeze. We finished the race in 10th place.

Day 2, Race 3: Once again we found ourselves in light wind. In the 4 months we have been training in NZ we have never had less than about 10 knots so the light winds have been very testing. We have decided some light wind training on our return to NZ will be required. Perhaps on of the many lakes in Rotorua. We got off to a great start but were lacking some boat speed upwind. We had some close racing with the Spanish team who managed to beat us to the finish and we crossed the line in 10th place in a dying breeze, just inside the time limit. Unfortunately the Dutch and Irish teams, finished outside the time limit.

Day 2, Race 4: We had a brilliant start but two extra tacks on the first upwind leg cost us dearly as we missed a nice wind shift. We should have rounded the top mark in first place but ended up towards the back of the fleet. The wind started dying rather than increasing as forecasted and our lack of sailing in these conditions made it difficult to keep the Spanish team behind us and we finished just behind them in 10th place. Overall we are in ninth place, 2 points clear of the Spanish and 11 points behind the Canadians. We are still sixth country overall and would just qualify NZ for the Paralympics.

Tomorrow we only have one race and will then be half way through the regatta. The forecast is for more wind so we have our fingers crossed to have some winds more like we get at home.

You can get all the results and see some video clips and great photos of the Worlds at www.ifdsworlds2010.com

Many thanks again to all our supporters back in NZ.