International Dragon Class Prince Philip Cup at Metung Yacht Club - Day 2
by Jeanette Severs 25 Jan 2024 22:35 PST
23-28 January 2024
Spinnakers up for the windward-leeward leg on day one of the 2024 International Dragon Class Prince Philip Cup © Jeanette Severs
Strong gale force WSW winds with short steep waves caused the races on day two of the Prince Philip Cup to be delayed, then cancelled.
The Prince Philip Cup/Australasian Championship 2024 is being contested by a fleet of 17 International Dragon class yachts at Metung, on the Gippsland Lakes, in Victoria, Australia.
Day two racing dawned with a light wind after an overnight storm, but a forecast of strongly building winds. There were two races planned for the Dragons today.
By the time of the race briefing at 10am, there was a strong WSW wind with predictions of growing gusts.
The AP flag was hoisted.
Race Officer John Spencer went out to the course and confirmed a two-hour postponement, and the AP flag remained at the top of the Metung Yacht Club flag pole.
Two hours later, Spencer inspected the race course again, and ordered the AP over A flag to be hoisted, and racing was cancelled for day two of the PPC. It is also day one of the Etchells Victorian Championship 2024, also being hosted by Metung Yacht Club.
Day one races (three) for the Etchells class were also cancelled.
Spencer said the races were postponed and consequently cancelled for the same reasons.
"The wind was well over 20 knots gusting up to 30-plus knots," he said. "I saw big seas for the Lakes system, but very short and they had no backs on them. The risks to boats and people were more than acceptable in those circumstances.
"And the forecast was for no abatement [of the strong wind] during the race day."
Spencer said the committee had decided to run an extra race on each of the remaining two days, and start each race day earlier.
This sets up the Dragon competitors for three races on the remaining two days; and four races on each of the two days for the Etchells competitors.