The final day of the OK Dinghy European championships will be a fight between youth and experience. After two more races on Thursday, the gap at the top has narrowed though the young Bartosz Rakocy (POL) still maintains a 13 point advantage over Greg Wilcox (NZL). Both races on Thursday were won by Tim Goodbody (IRL).

 

Race seven was sailed in a very patchy 8-12 knots of breeze and was again characterised by large shifts across the course area with the majority of the front runners emerging from the left. Greg Wilcox led at the to mark from Tim Goodbody and Jorgen Svendson (DEN). Svendson took the lead on the first second reach and stayed in the lead until the last beat when Goodbody made his move to take his third race win of the week. Wilcox moved up to second with Svenson in third. Second overnight Lindhardtsen was scored OCS.

 

Race eight was started in a bit more breeze which increased to 18-20 knots on the first beat when a large left hand shift came in, lifting the middle of the fleet to the top mark and leaving those on the right stranded and those on the left with a reach to the windward mark.

 

Emerging from the middle Goodbody led round followed by Lindhardtsen and Robert Deaves (GBR). Goodbody said 'bye' and was gone, building a large lead on the fast offwind legs. He led for the remainder of the race, loosely covering the fleet to win his second race of the day and his fourth of the regatta so far.

 

Behind him, Jorgen Svendson was continuing his good day moving past Lindhardtsen - who had broken his kicking strap - on the second reach to secure second place. Wilcox made big gains on the run and then moved up to fourth by the finish, just behind Lindhardtsen.

 

Goodbody said, "I had good speed today and it was good fun racing in the breeze, though still very shifty. I think the key was just to look for the pressure and drive into it. Any time I got a lift I was just trying to drive to the next lift to get the the next shift as soon as possible. Low and fast worked better than pointing"

 

A black flag yesterday has cost him dearly as he now has to count the 23 from day one. "I have a lot to do. But I'll just go out and sail the race and hope that the others make the mistakes and try not to make any myself. Being new to the class it is easy to make mistakes when you are not used to the boat but I am here to stay and really enjoying it."

 

The championship concludes with two more races on Friday, and with a forecast of light winds, the result is by no means a foregone conclusion. Rakocy has yet to make a major mistake this week, so he will be the one to beat. However, the final races will come down the youth and talent of Rakocy and Goodbody against the experience of Lindhardtsen and Wilcox.

Results and reports are HERE.