Waiting for breeze at Royal Brighton Yacht Club. Image copyright Andrea Francolini/Audi.
by Di Pearson
It’s Day 1 of the Audi Etchells Worlds and already racing has been delayed, as race officials from Royal Brighton Yacht Club, which is hosting the event, wait for an east to sou-easterly wind of 5-15 knots to fill in – and at 12.00pm the AP was still flying, but at 1.20pm the breeze was filling in enough for officials to drop the AP.
Eighty five entries are confirmed for these World’s and this morning Principal Race officer Ross Wilson said there were two races planned to be sailed back to back starting from 12.00pm. However, one look at the conditions and Wilson ordered the AP flag be raised onshore, signalling a delay in the start.
Local sailing identity John Savage, winner of the 1979 and 1988 Etchells Worlds, was relaxed about the delay. “It'll be fine, the wind will eventually fill in, it'll probably come in from the left. We’ll get some good breeze” he said after seeing the AP signal.
The AP flag flies above the Audi at Royal Brighton Yacht Club. Image copyright Andrea Francolini/Audi.
Meanwhile, one of Sydney’s biggest names in sailing, Michael Coxon, was already feeling the pain from the Invitation Race, sailed yesterday on Port Phillip. Coxon, a North Sails director, is sailing with employee Julian Plante.
“I’m aching all over,” he candidly admitted this morning, adding: “I had a bit of physio but I’m still in pain. Don’t you hate getting old?”
Audi Etchells Worlds 2009
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