2022 International Etchells Worlds at the Royal Yacht Squadron - Day 4
by Louay Habib 23 Sep 20:38 PDT
18-24 September 2022
More tricky and shifty conditions produced another challenging day at the Etchells World Championship. The Royal Yacht Squadron Race Committee raised AP/A at 17:16 BST, after a second long day on the water. Today's race winners were Anatole Masfen's New Order (NZL 1499) and Nils Razmilovic's Matatu (SGP 1333).
As it stands after six races, any of the top ten boats has a realistic chance of winning the 2022 Etchells World Championship. The new regatta leader is Lawrie Smith's Mila (GBR 1502), by just six points from Andrew Lawson's Corinthian team racing No Dramas (GBR 1490). Peter Duncan's Oatmeal (USA 1453) is third, but only on countback from Grant Gordon's Louise Racing (GBR 1495). Three more races are possible tomorrow and teams will be able to discard their worst result after Race 7.
Results from the 2022 Etchells Worlds Championship can be found at yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=15098
In Race 5, Anatole Masfen's New Order (NZL 1499) scored their second bullet of the regatta. Ante Razmilovic's Swedish Blue was second and Grant Gordon's Louise Racing was third. Paul Ward's Eat,Sleep,E,Repeat (GBR 1493) was a much improved fourth. George Downer's Youth and Corinthian team racing Moonlight (GBR 967) had a cracking race finishing fifth.
"Time in the boat is so important, especially in light airs," commented Grant Gordon. "When it's blowing hard and stable it does take a lot of skill to race these boats. However in the shifty conditions we have has so far, it requires a totally different set of skills. Maybe we are now getting to know how to sail the boat better in the light, because we sailed well today."
In Race Six, the fleet eventually got away under a Black Flag start. Nils Razmilovic's Matatu scored their first win of the championship. Paul Brotherton's MBF (GBR 1460) was second and Steve Benjamin's Stella Blue (USA 1427) was third.
Nils Razmilovic has been away from Etchells sailing for six years but he is thoroughly enjoying being back in Cowes. "We got a clean start and once you get that you can stay in phase," commented Nils. "We always look to the right as a bias side because of the puffs of wind, and once we could make a cross on the bulk of the fleet we could chose when to tack. With conditions like we had today, the richer get richer and the poorer get poorer. The crucial thing was to get your nose out in front at the start, but a Black Flag is always tricky to start with! We had a good transit and got away well. I have to say all kudos to Paul Brotherton and his team (MBF), they pushed us every inch of the way."
Tomorrow, Saturday 24th September, will be the final day of action at the 2022 Etchells World Championship. Up to three more races can be held. For regular updates, pictures and results follow the UK Etchells Fleet Facebook page, www.facebook.com/UKEtchellsFleet