Dublin foiling supremo Rory Fitzpatrick did not start the second race of the Bacardi Moth World Championship in Bermuda yesterday when 30–knot gusts hit the 33–boat fleet. It means the National Yacht Club and Royal Irish Yacht Club sailor now lies 24th overall some ten points adrift of countryman David Kenefick of Royal Cork Yacht Club who mastered both blustery races to count a 17 and 13 to be fourteenth overall, just seven points outside the top ten. Full results are here
Goodison Takes Lead
Paul Goodison of the U.K. took the early lead after winning the first two races on Great Sound.
Hosted by the Royal Bermuda yacht Club, the world championship got underway a day late after yesterday was blown out. Yesterday was on the hairy edge as the wind blew steadily between 18 and 22 knots with gusts nearing 30 knots. The conditions were challenging for the sailors but left some exhilarated.
Goodison didn't suffer any breakdowns today but one of his main rivals, Iain Jensen of Australia, did. Jensen led Goodison around the first lap of Race 1, heightening the intrigue as to which of the veteran Mothists is faster.
On the second upwind leg, however, Jensen's boom vang broke. He managed to salvage a fifth in the race but then missed the second race because he returned to shore to make a repair in the hopes of returning for the third race. By that point the wind had increased and the race committee decided to postpone the rest of the day's schedule.
Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow with a forecast that calls for winds of 12 to 20 knots.
Bacardi Moth World Championship Bermuda Provisional Standings
(After 2 races)
1. Paul Goodison (GBR) 1-1 - 2 points
2. Brad Funk (USA) 3-3 - 6
3. Rome Kirby (USA) 7-2 - 9
4. Simon Hiscocks (GBR) 2-8 - 10
5. Victor Diaz de Leon (USA) 4-6 - 10
6. Dan Ward (GBR) 6-5 - 11
7. Benoit Marie (FRA) 8-4 - 12
8. Francesco Bruni (ITA) 13-7 - 20
9. David Holenweg (SUI) 9-12 - 21
10. Michael Barnes (GBR) 12-11 - 23
