A millpond on Day 3 at the Audi Etchells Worlds. Image copyright Andrea Francolini/Audi.
by Di Pearson
It is Day 3 of the Audi Etchells Worlds being held on Port Phillip Bay,and once again competitors arrived at Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Melbourne, host to the event, to find a beautiful sunny day, but no breeze again, prompting the Principal Race Officer, Ross Wilson, to arrive armed with his AP flag (signalling that racing is delayed), joking: “There have been lots of AP’s at regattas lately, so I just carry the AP with me everywhere I go,” producing much laughter.
Wilson told his race management team: “We intend to hold two races as originally planned, but they will have to be good races. I’m prepared to hang around and wait.”
Racing was to start from midday, but as 12.00pm ticked by, Port Phillip, normally renowned for its big wind, waves and chop, was benignly calm, the AP flag hardly able to raise a flutter.
Competitors are resting on boats, working on boats or sitting at the Club discussing – sailing!
Melbourne big boat grand prix sailor Chris Dare is here crewing for Sydney friend Roger Hickman, also a big boat sailor. They are currently placed 39th overall. Dare commented this morning: “The even’ts good, it’s a lot of fun. It’s so different to big boat sailing.
“Etchells fleet racing takes takes you back to the basics; all the things you tend to forget when you race big boats. We’re doing quite well for a crew that hasn’t had a lot of time to practice – I’m quite happy we’re doing as well as we are.”
At 12.20pm, the AP was dropped onshore and competitors headed to their boats.
The Audi Etchells World Championship is being sailed on Port Phillip and is organised by the Melbourne Etchells Fleet in conjunction with the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, host of many Etchells championships, including the Nationals in 2006.
Provisional top 10 following three races:
1 BERTRAND, John/PALFREY, Andrew/AINSLIE, Ben 3,11,1 15pts
2 MUIR, Jason/CHEW, Matthew/WYATT, Paul/SMITH, Bucky 10,5,5 20pts
3 SMITH, Judd/JOHNSON, Mark/BURFOOT, Nik 18,13,4 35pts
4 KING, Damien/CUNNINGTON, Simon/WARE, James/BUTLER, Andrew 15,3,23 41pts
5 DRENNAN, Noel/JARVIN, Steven/MCCARTHY, William 21,1,20 42pts
6 TILLY, Jervis/NATTRASS, Nigel/ARNOLD, James 22,7,14 43pts
7 SAVAGE, John/JOHNSTONE, Wayne/MACQUET, Jean-Pierre 12,14,22 48pts
8 GAIR, Alastair/RIDLEY, David/JOHNSTON, Rhys /SCOTT, Derek 19,6,30 55pts
9 GARNER, Brendan/SCHILT, Michael/CLARK, Tim 17,28,10 55pts
10 PLANTE, Julian/COXON, Michael/DUNSTAN, Michael 11,9,39 59pts
Audi Etchells Worlds 2009
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