RS-X racing at Sail Melbourne Regatta

by David Bell on 10 Jan 2006 Melbourne showed that it truely is the city of four seasons in one day; rain this morning and 80 percent humidity and sunny spells in the afternoon, finishing off with 30 plus rainy bullets. Close to 1600 hours, the Race Officer recorded a steady 12 knots from the north and sent out both the men's and women's fleets.

In the RS:X Racing Class, both starts were clear with the sailors going upwind when a black cloud emerged from the West. The wind swung around 90 degrees making the Upwind /Downwind course a tactical speed race. where finding the wind was the key to success. As the ever blackening cloud approached gusts of stinging rain and blinding spray pelted all, producing 35 knot rain squalls and lulls of zero.

Steve Allen (AUS0), sailing to the right side of the course, flew into a comfortable lead by a good 300 metres. He was later overtaken by Casper Bouman (NED2) who took the bullet for the men's fleet. Steve Allen followed and third place was John Paul Tobin (NZL151).

In the Women's fleet it was ISAF ranked Wai Kei Chan (HKG 8) led from start to finish, closely chased by Masako Imai (JPN 19), and third place Wai Man Chan (HKG 26). Under 25 seconds from first to third, doesn't show how close the racing is for these women.