Light air conditions challenge the fleet on a 100-mile island tour
Image copyright Dean Miculinic.
by Dobbs Davis
Despite glassy morning conditions and a weak forecast, race managers have today sent the fleet of 119 teams off on the long and middle offshore race at the
Image copyright Dean Miculinic.
The course of approximately 100 miles in total length started in the mouth of the bay just west of the town of Cres, turned towards Susak Island 35 miles south, then to a rounding mark 25 miles north in Martinscica bay, then 15 miles southwest to Unije Island, then southeast 5 miles to Male Srakane, then the remaining 20 miles north to the finish back in Cres.
Image copyright Dean Miculinic.
“This will be an interesting navigational course for the teams,” said event director Zoran Grubisa, “as there are many islands and rocks to get around, and local wind conditions to understand at many points on the course. And if the wind remains this light, it could be a long night for some teams and reward those who can stay focused.”
Image copyright Dean Miculinic.
The long distance race in ORC championships consists of two races: a long race scored on the time taken to complete the entire course, and a middle-distance race scored on the time taken at a scoring gate placed halfway into the course. Each is given a scoring coefficient of 1.5, and is not discardable in the overall scores for the event.
Image copyright Dean Miculinic.
Image copyright Dean Miculinic.
Yesterdayʼs Class A winner, the Croatia-based Grand Soleil 56R Marina Kastela skippered by Mate Arapov, may be a favorite to win given the teamʼs familiarity with the local conditions and the designʼs prowess in light air. But the two TP52ʼs in the class, Action Teamʼs TP52 Aniene 1er Classe from Italy and Felix Reidlʼs Austrian-based Aquila, as well as yesterdayʼs 3rd placed GP42 Airis owned by Roberto Monti and skippered by Cesare Bressan, may have the right combination of light weight and generous sail area needed in the light air to out-pace the generous time allowances owed their slower rivals.
Image copyright Dean Miculinic.
ORCi World Championships
