Mirror Worlds day 3 - Leader board hots up in blistering conditions

by Anthony Galante on 6 Jan 2011 Things are hotting up on the leader board in the 2011 LandCorp Mirror World Championships as five teams from five nations jostle for the title. Showing the versatility of the Mirror, GBR's teenage sensations Millie Newman and Jessica Rust are in front being challenged by 2007 World Champ, Irishman Ross Kearney with Philippinos Balladares/Chavel third, closely followed by RSA and AUS.

When the competitors arrived today for the start of day three, there was little breeze and warm sunshine which bathed the competitors. By the time the boats took to the water, the breeze had picked up from the north bringing a warm breeze to the middle of Princess Royal Harbour.

Race 8 took a while to get off, with 2 postponements and a Black Flag frustrating the fleet. There was an even spread along the line and Paul and Austin Taylor rolled the dice and started on port tack with the young British pair, Matthew and Ben Lulham-Robinson following quickly behind. Both boats were at the front in the top mark rounding.

The British girls were back in the fleet at the top rounding but as they have demonstrated all regatta, their boat handling is second to none and their kite hoist and ability to get planing sooner than other boats had them reeling in the leaders.

The warm breeze was a delight to sail in and the competitors reveled in the superb conditions. Kearney and Odell managed to work their way to the front for a solid win, whilst the British girls showed grit and determination to work up to second with the Tasmania girls Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher in third. The Taylors faded after leading early and finished seventh.

Race 9 was a clear start with the pin end starters seeming to do the better out of the first beat. The temperature ashore was 41C and it was hot at the front of the fleet with Ireland's Ross Kearney and Max Odell first to the top mark followed by the young British brothers Matthew and Ben Lulham Robinson.

By the time they got to the gate Kearney was leading with Lulham-Robinson second and Newman and Rust third. But the story of the day was the 14 year old South African pocket rocket, Ricky Robinson with older brother Ryan as crew who took out the race. There boat speed was great as they managed to fly downwind to meet the finishers at the gate following the shortened course. Second was Australian Mark Phillips with son Hugh and third was mother/son pair Anita Scott-Murphy and Ben Cruse.

By the time the fleet got ashore, the weather changed with a sou-westerly blowing through with lightning and strong gusts by to 30 knots. The timing of the return to shore was impeccable with the boats out of harms way.

After the squalls, the weather moderated and the sailors were sent afloat for Race 10 in rainy conditions with a light breeze. With many boats over under the Blue Peter, the fleet was recalled to start under the Black Flag. The pin seemed to be the end to be and the Philippinos, weighing 139 kgs, beat many of their lighter competitors to the top mark and were away first on the reach followed by South Africa's Robinsons with triple Fireball World Champion, John Dransfield and son Jesse in third.

Balladares and Chavez maintained their lead down the run and were pursued by Ireland's Ross Kearney and Max Odell with the South Africans in third. The Irish boat managed to sail a clever race in the light breeze and by the bottom they were just trailing the Philippinos and managed to storm home in the fickle conditions to the finish line that was brought down to the bottom mark as a result of the breeze dropping right out. Second were the Philippinos, Balladares and Chavel with John and Jesse Dransfield third.

The top five on the leader board shows 5 different teams from 5 different nations only separated by 12 points. With 5 races still programmed and only 12 points separating them, this World Title can go any way. The top 5 10 races and one drop is as follows:

1. Millie Newman and Jessica Rust (GBR) 37
2. Ross Kearney and Max Odell (IRL) 38
3. Ridgely Balladares and Rommel Chavez (PHI) 46
4. Ryan and Ricky Robinson (RSA) 47
5. Paul and Austin Taylor (AUS) 49

For more information visit:
www.mirrorworlds2011.com
http://worlds2011.blogspot.com/