33rd Nacra Nationals - Day 4

by Nacra Australia on 7 Jan 2012 While the conditions for the fourth day of racing at the Nacra Australian titles were anything but consistent, those leading their respective fleets were. The morning session was sailed in a 8 to 12 knot NE land breeze.

Mick Guinea and Viv Hayden extended their lead in the F18s with two wins, as did Matt Caldwell and Bruce Potter in the 5.8s. While in the 16sq fleet Warren Guinea stepped out on Jared Potter with two wins in the morning.

Conditions for the afternoon session weren't any better, with the land breeze slowly dying towards the end of the first race. PRO John Woolit then postponed on the water, with reports of the SW seabreeze moving up from the south. After almost two hours and with the NE still hanging in, the PRO kicked of the final race for the day. Mid way through the race the NE died, then the SW built with no halt in racing. Mick Guinea and Viv Hayden won both afternoon races in the F18s, as did Matt Caldwell and Bruce Potter in the 5.8s.

Both Guinea/Hayden and Caldwell/Potter have wrapped up their respective titles with a day to spare.

In the 16sq's, Warren Guinea split the afternoon races with Jared Potter, and leads the overall results heading into the final day of racing.

The competiton for podium positions in F18s remains close with two races to go. Dale Mitchell is currently in second place but only has a 1 point lead over Mal Richardson. Richardson had a consistent day with three seconds and fifth, while Mitchell had two thirds, a fifth and an eighth. At one point in the first race of the afternoon, Mitchell was in last place but managed to sail through the fleet.

In the 5.8s, Shane and Kimberley Russell are in second, 10 points clear of Southport pairing Steve Curtis and Kerry Noyes. Russell's consistency is remarkable considering he broke his mast in the blown out race from day 3.

After much scrambling, Russell managed to secure some long forgotten mast that had most likely been sitting in one of the vineyards of the Adelaide Hills. After clearing away resident wildlife, cleaning up the mast and replacing any suspect components, Russell was able to get back on the water without missing a race. The competiton between Curtis and Noyes, and forth placed Martin Horder is closer. Only three points separate the Gold Coast crew from the NSW class president.

In the 16sq's, Warren Guinea now has a four point lead over second placed Jared Potter. Unlike the leaders of the other fleets Warren will still need to sail tomorrow to secure the National Title.

There are two races scheduled for the final day of racing.

For full results check out the Largs Bay Sailing Club website