Report by Jeff Martin day 3Laser Radial World and European Championship
Scheveningen, Holland
Day 3
After no racing on the second day due to strong wind and waves over 2.5m high the third day of the Laser Radial World and European Championship was a complete contrast of not enough wind. The race committee started the two Women's European Championship fleets and the first of the men's World championship fleets under grey skies and a light north west wind. As the second men's fleet waited for the course to clear the wind died to below 5 knots and racing for the first three fleets was abandoned.
As the clouds cleared the breeze came back at 10 knots 25 degreees further to the west and the course was re-set. Each of the women's fleets started at the second attempt but the first of the men's fleets continuously pushed the line in spite of the black flag rule being in force. After 16 boats were disqualified for breaking the line during the minute before the start the fleet finally got away on the 4th attempt. The second men's fleet were far less trouble.
Defending champion, Evi Van Acker from Belgium, consolidated her overall lead by winning her fleet. Afterwards she said "I am very pleased. I had a good start and good speed and I led from start to finish". In the women's fleets the top sailors all handled the lighter conditons well except for Crotia's Gea Barbic whose 29th dropped her from 3rd to 15th overall.
It was a different story for the men. Overall joint leader, Douwe Boekens from Holland, said before the race "I was fast in the strong winds of the first day but it could be a different story if the wind goes light". His fears were well founded as he finished 15th in his fleet. “I had a disaster” he said afterwards. His disaster was not so great but it did drop him to third. His place was taken by fellow Dutchman, Eduardo Vianen who had previously shared the lead. His 5th place gives him a five point lead over the chasing pack.
The Race Committee attempted to start the second of three races scheduled at 1700 but abandoned their attempt as the spring tide produced a two knot cross course current making it virtually impossible for the boats to make forward progress when beating into the current on starboard tack in the 8 knot wind.
The qualifier series is extended into the 4th day and 3 more races are scheduled. However the building high pressure over the southern North Sea does not give much promise of winds of over 8 knots. Once again the only window for a race could be during slack water time.
Provisional results after 3 races:
Worlds Men:
1. Eduardo Vianen NED 8pts
2. Stephen Cockerill GBR 13pts
3. Douwe Broekens NED 16 pts
Europeans Women
1. Evi van Acker BEL 4pts
2. Gintare Volungeviciute LTU 9pts
3. Alison Young GBR 9pts
