Gareth Flannigan, Michael Ferguson and Brian Spenc, Ballyholme Yacht Club lead are top Irish boat at the Volvo Laser SB3 World Championships 2010 at Torbole on Lake Garda, Italy. Three races were scheduled on two race courses, Course Alfa "Torbole" (yell0w) and Course Bravo "Riva" (blue). The Ballyholme trio lie 23rd. Full results available for download below.
Watching the racing from the Committee Boat on Course Alpha, it was clear that the racing conditions were exactly as described in the brochure, "At 1230 hrs, the Ora wind will arrive from the south of the Lake"....and it did, enabling Principal Race Officer Roberta Righetti, to get the fleet away on time with a clear start. Course Brava started soon after, having suffered a slight delayed whilst the Race Committee struggled to anchor the pin end mark.
Tightly bunched: Dave Barry, Dan O'Conell and Breffni Jones of Howth Yacht Club (IRL 3449) competing in today's first race. Photo Carloni Grasso
Typically for Course Alpha, the fleet bunched at the pin end of the start line, before heading off to hug the shore all the way to the windward mark. The same side of the course remained the favourite for downwind leg. Luca Bacci (ITA) rounded the windward mark in first place, and lead for the remainder of the race, extending his lead at times to over 150 metres as the wind built. Bacci (ITA) went on to win race 1 on Course A, followed by Sarah Allan (GBR), Craig Burlton (GBR) and Mark Rushall (GBR). All 3 boats all sponsored by Gill.
Course Bravo enjoyed, "Perfect Riva racing conditions" according to Jerry Hill (GBR) helm of 3 Sad Old Blokes. "With a 3, 5, 1 today the Sad Old Blokes have plenty to build on and Grunter (bowman Grant Rollerson) showed his grunt at the front of the ship."
Team Proximo (RSA) helmed by Ian Ainslie suffered a broken pole during the first downwind leg of race 1 forcing them to sail without a pole for the rest of the race in which they still managed to finish second. Their subsequent results will be a disappointment to their event ambitions.
Current Laser SB3 World Champions Craig Burlton leads the fleet overnight. When ask how his day was he answered, "Hard, very hard. But great fun."
Racing continues tomorrow when the fleets will split again onto the two courses, this time sorted by odd and even finishing position. For now, the crews return ashore happy after a great days competition to enjoy a feast of pasta and beer provided by Circolo Vela Torbole.
