Etchells Pre-World Championship at Royal Brighton Yacht Club - Day 2
by Nic Douglass 4 Jan 17:05 AEDT
3-5 January 2025
The heat was on for day two of the Etchells Pre-Worlds, predominantly for the Race Committee, who were dealt a rough hand by the weather gods. There was hope that even in the extreme temperatures the northerly gradient breeze blowing off the city would hold, and one race would get away on time.
However, the Answering Pennant (AP/postponement) was flown at 12:55 instead of the warning signal, and the 32 competitors were left drifting and finding ways to keep cool in the Melbourne summer heat. From swimming to taking over coach boats, competitors willed the northerly to fill in, or for the sea breeze to build more quickly from the south.
30 minutes after hoisting the AP, the Race Officer decided to send the fleet home.
"I'm going to do an AP over H", said Race Officer Rob Ridley to competitors over the radio.
"There is a possibility for a bit of breeze around four pm but it's already half past one. AP over H gives us the option to come back out if that breeze does come in but I think it's best for everybody to get in and out of the heat."
Competitors and organisers filed back to the shore and as they retreated to the Royal Brighton Yacht Club the breeze began to swing to the south.
"What can I say, the wind really didn't play ball today," said Peter Robson, Etchells World Championship 2025 Organising Committee Chair.
"We started with a very light northerly but it just didn't come in. The Race Officer did a really good job to try and get us out early to try and get the race off and running, but it's just fickle. It was all over the place unfortunately."
N over A was hoisted at 15:07 as the sea breeze lost the battle with the gradient and Port Phillip glassed out.
Racing for the final day of the Pre-Worlds is set to start at 12:55 tomorrow with the prize-giving at 17:00.
The World Championship will commence from the same venue on 10 January, running through to the 14 January with nine scheduled races.
These regattas would not be possible without the incredible support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club and their team of volunteers.
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Etchells Australia: www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia
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