Saturday 14 March 2009

Audi Etchells Worlds 2009: Day 5 - Millpond on Port Phillip

by Di Pearson

Two more races are scheduled to be sailed Friday at the 2009 Audi Etchells World Championship being hosted by the Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Melbourne, but at 10.45am, Port Phillip was looking like a millpond.

Principal Race Officer Ross Wilson says a sea breeze is expected, but not until around midday, when Race 7 was due to start. “Our intention is to still hold two races, but we will see what the weather holds in store and make a decision from there. We will go out on the course with our AP (racing delayed) flag and wait it out.”

In other news of the day, entries skippered by Bruce McBriar (AUS), Martin Vezina (BER) and Guyon Wilson (AUS) Patton that failed to weigh in as required by the rules, have been reinstated into Race 6 due to the wording of the rule. McBriar finished 41st, Wilson 48th and Vazina 58th. McBriar is the best place overall of the three in 43rd place.

Meanwhile, Andrew Cooper/David Richard/Stuart Skeggs (GBR) were disqualified from Race 6 under Rule 11/after weather mark.

Currently, Melbourne’s John Bertrand and his crew of Ben Ainslie and Andrew Palfrey (AUS) lead the 85 international entry Audi Etchells World Championship on 21 points, Jason Muir/Matthew Chew/Paul Wyatt/Bucky Smith (AUS) are second with 26 points and Stuart Childerley/Robert Elliott/Sam Richmond are third on 36 points.

The final race will be sailed Saturday on Port Phillip starting from 12.00pm, weather permitting.

The 2009 Audi Etchells World Championship is organised by the Melbourne Etchells Fleet in conjunction with the Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

Audi Etchells Worlds 2009

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