Tasmanian crew lead French SB20 National Championship at Hyeres on Day 2
by Jane Austin / SB20 AUS Media 14 Sep 2019 23:40 PDT
Aeolus prepares for racing in Hyeres - French SB20 National Championship - Day 2 © Vasco Serpa Sail Cascais
The Aussies and the Brits are in for an exciting final day of sailing after a change in the leader board following Day Two of the 2019 SB20 French National Championship.
Australia's Brett Cooper, Darren Jones and Jock Calvert (Aeolus/RYCT/DSS) have their new charter boat humming in Hyères, but with one drop in the series and a second to come after Race Ten, Cooper (17 points) has some work to do to claim the French National Championship from 2019 SB20 UK Champion John Pollard (Excellent), Jack Wetherell and Steve Procter (12 points). The fleet endured a two-hour delay to the start of racing while waiting for the breeze to come in, but the breeze kept the fleet guessing for the entire day, with shifty conditions of between 8 and 15 knots causing 'hard little waves' on the course. Cooper also had to contend with kite damage on the course, but is feeling pretty good overall. "We had a mixed day and a couple of issues with the kite caught at the top mark and a torn kite, but we recovered well in the shifty conditions that we are working with.
Overall we had a pretty consistent day," said Cooper, who late last night was on the hunt for a sail-maker to repair the kite. Jones, the Aeolus tactician, felt the team had a solid day but sailing was very tricky peaking at 16tws but dropping to 8tws at times. [We] had some issues tearing a spinnaker and then trawling at another time, but either way, it was a good day and pleasant sailing," said Jones. And the key to Day Three for the Australians? "It's certainly challenging sailing here but I think we have been able to stay consistent and that shows with our scores. With yet another drop to come into play, maybe we can take some risks tomorrow if needed, but in the first couple of races we will be keeping a close eye on Follin and Pollard," said Jones. "The forecast for the final day of the series looks good with similar wind direction to today but a touch lighter and it could be even more tricky, so fingers crossed," said Jones.
The defending champion Robin Follin FRA (Give Me Five FFV Youth) on 23 points, who is enjoying being back on an SB20 after an 18 month break since the 2018 Worlds in Hobart, Tasmania, had a better second day although he too described the conditions as tricky. "It was not an easy day today with a lot of shift during races, but it was much better for us than the first day because we weren't the same team as usual. Gaulthier was on the last exam of his study and our little Gaby was unavailable, which was complicated as we had 45 less kilos, but we do the best we can", said Follin.
Day Two didn't quite go the way the Portuguese star Vasco Serpa (Animal/SailCascais) had hoped, describing their racing as 'all over the place' with poor concentration affecting their sailing, but the enthusiastic sailor was very pleased to see such a great and competitive fleet on the water providing good training before the Worlds in October, especially the teams that have chartered the new Sportsboatworld SB20s that Sail Cascais have purchased and are on the water in Hyères (Aeolus, #GameChanger). The first warning signal for the final day of sailing is 1000 (1800 AEST). Four races are scheduled with a drop after Race Ten. No warning signal can be given after 1500.