The PUMA Moth Worlds Mach 2 fleet in Dubai. Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
by Bridgid Murphy
Andrew "Amac" McDougall’s nine point lead evaporated today in the difficult patchy Dubai breeze of the third day of the PUMA International Moth World Championship. The first race of the day, race five of the prestigious event, was a carbon copy of the final race yesterday, with US Laser sailor Brad Funk scoring a bullet. European Moth Champ Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) scored a second on the same race, and at the end of the day Psarofaghis moved into third place. "Today I lost a few positions I shouldn't have, but overall I was going pretty fast in some difficult conditions," the Swiss racer said. Simon Payne captured third in the race.
Brad Funk (USA). Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
Seattle, USA skiff sailor Dalton Bergan pulled off the move of the regatta at the exciting start of race six, when he port-tacked the entire fleet – a sailor’s dream at a World Championship. The manuver payed off and guaranteed victory for Bergan. Australian Scott Babbage grabbed second place, with Funk again scoring big with a third. Payne continued his strong performance with a fourth and 2009 World Champ Bora Gulari rounded out the top five.
The last race of the day started in a lighter and dying breeze, with Psarofaghis edging out Brad Funk for the race win after Funk broke his boom vang. Funk also lost a sail control called a camber inducer, greatly reducing the power in his rig. The gear failure cost Brad one point, leaving his just two points from race leader Payne, whose consistency has proved his biggest advantage. "I was good but not great today, not quite as fast as yesterday just before I broke my mast, but then the conditions weren't quite the same so you have to take that into account," explained Payne.
Thursday is a lay day for the fleet.
Andrew McDougall (AUS). Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
Results to date, top 12 places with one discard
1. GBR5 Simon Payne 5,2,1,41,3,4,3 18pts
2. USA3451 Brad Funk 3,11,10,1,1,3,2 20pts
3. SUI3 Arnaud Psarofaghis 17,9,3,3,2,6,1 24pts
4. USA4 Dalton Bergan 10,20,4,4,4,1,4 27pts
5. AUS3380 Andrew McDougall 1,1,11,2,13,8,11 34pts
6. USA1 Bora Gulari 12,10,2,7,6,5,5 35pts
7. AUS7 Scott Babbage 8,4,9,5,10,2,9 37pts
8. UAE3679 Chris Graham 4,7,7,10,5,7,7 37pts
9. GBR3708 Michael Lennon 2,8,8,6,8,9,10 41pts
10. GBR3604 Adam May 6,5,6,16,9,14,18 56pts
11. SIN3700 Mark Robinson 16,23,5,14,11,15,6 67pts
12. AUS9 Rob Gough 11,18,12,12,12,12,8 67pts
PUMA Ocean Racing
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