ACO Musto Skiff Pre-Worlds at Yacht Club de Carnac - Day 1
by Rick Perkins 5 Jun 2016 06:38 AEST
4-11 June 2016
Dan Henderson (GBR) makes his intentions clear
Following a short postponement Jérome Nutte the event principal race officer sent the fleet out onto the Bay of Quiberon for races 1 and 2 of the ACO Musto Skiff Pre-World Championships. Conditions were light with just enough wind to wire at times.
The team at Yacht Club de Carnac, the host club, were very efficient at setting the course and after two general recalls race 1 got away under a black flag. Daniel Henderson (GBR) started at the pin end and headed left and rounded the windward mark in the lead from Mike Palfreman (GBR) and and group including Ben Schooling, Alex Knight and current World Champion Bruce Kean.
Positions remained the same with Henderson taking the win by an impressive 1 1/2 minutes.
Race 2 got away first go under a U flag with Justo Martinez (ESP) leading at the windward mark from Henderson and Schooling. Henderson and Schooling pulled through into 1st and 2nd and entered into a battle for the win, with Henderson just taking the race.
The class is also running a coaching clinic for newcomers to the fleet run by well know coach Russ Clark. This imitative is targeted at the sailors attending their first world championships... the big fleet can be a bit daunting and so Russ will be working on equipping the newcomers with the skills to get off a busy start line and developing the skills to deal with the mark roundings.
Having spent the morning with the coaching group Russ, spent the afternoon on the water supporting those taking part in the coaching programme and will be hosting the daily post race debrief accompanied by 3 top sailors.
These evening the sailors are reviewing the races over a few beers in the warm glow of French hospitality.
Further details on the venue and host club can be found at www.yccarnac.com
Thanks again to ACO, MUSTO and Ovington Boats who will be supporting the regatta.