Rookie of the week Josh McKnight (AUS). Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
by Pat Langley
The game has decidedly turned going into Race 5 of the Final Series at the 2011 Zhik Moth World Championships. Racers are still flying fast, but the tactical gears are beginning to churn.
Fleet shot. Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
In Race 5, Peter Burling (NZL) lead around the course, ultimately losing to Iain Jensen (AUS) on the last leg. Nathan Outteridge (AUS) now with 8 points was back in form after the injury, lost out on the win, but played a tight race against the leading contenders, Joe Turner (AUS) and John Harris (AUS) who have 19 and 23, respectively. Turner finished the day strong, but he does carry a DNF into the final day of racing and cannot afford any slip-ups.
Andrew McDougall (A-Mac) busts his boom. Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
Outteridge goes into the final day with a comfortable 11-point lead (although what’s considered “comfortable” in a Moth Fleet is debatable.) Second place on down is anybody’s guess. Even with Bora Gulari’s (USA) OCS in the final race, he was able to climb back to 13th, which is currently his drop for a score just 7 points back from Turner. Scott Babbage (AUS) sits just ahead, and despite having a double-digit race early in the day (10th), he did hit a 31.1 knot split during the racing.
Tom Slingsby. Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
Forecast reads for 20 knots 9300hrs, and PRO Peter Moor has moved the start of Silver fleet to 1000hrs AEDST, with Gold to immediately follow.
Race 5 winner Iain Jensen and Bora Gulari get tactical. Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.
Gold Fleet - Final Series Results after Day 2, with 1 discard
Rank Skipper Code QS Pos R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts
1 Nathan Outteridge AUS 1 1 1 4 2 3 8
2 Joe Turner AUS 3 3 4 3 DNF 6 19
3 John Harris AUS 8 5 2 5 3 9 23
4 Scott Babbage AUS 4 2 8 6 10 4 24
5 Bora Gulari USA 11 4 3 7 1 13 26
6 Peter Burling NZL 2 14 DNF 1 11 2 30
7 Iain Jensen AUS 5 7 16 9 9 1 31
8 Andrew Budgen GBR 13 6 6 10 4 7 36
9 Arnaud Psarofaghis SUI 12 8 5 13 7 5 37
10 Rob Gough AUS 6 9 7 8 17 8 38
Video: Race Day 5 Highlights
Video: Race Day 4 Highlights
Zhik Moth Worlds 2011
