Finn Class

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

With commentary.

Wednesday photo album

Some great photos from Wednesday by Tosca Zambra.

Race five was sailed in 8-9 knots, almost reaching 12 by the final downwind. Bryan Boyd led round the top mark for the secoind time this week but couldn't hold on to the lead this time. Eduard Skornyakov took the lead on the first run and held to the finish. Andrew Mills sailed a great race into second while Dan Slater recovered to third to take the overall lead of the regatta.

After an hour's wait for the wind to stabilise it came back at 10-12 knots, increasing throughout the race. The Oscar flag downwind made for great surfing and pumping conditions. Michaal Maier led round the top mark after going right while many of the favourites including Slater were buried. Marin Misura took the lead on the first downwind to lead to the finish ahead of Jonathnan Lobert and Bjorn Allansson.

Slater and Zach Railey are now tied for the lead. Full results posted on event website.

Full report to follow.

Fleet going afloat

Racing expected to start on time. Heavy cloud appearing with a few drops of rain, but still a light wind in place.

Wednesday morning in Vallensbaek

Another bright and sunny morning here in Denmark, though a bit colder at 19 degrees. Some small clouds building on shore with currently a southerly light breeze in place. Looks good.

Today, if at least one more race is sailed, the discard kicks in so there should be some significant changes at the top. So far it's been a very high scoring regatta. The current leader Zach Railey has a sixth as his best result and leads the scoreboard by some eight points, but he is also the only sailor so far to place top ten in each race.

After today's racing, we should have a clearer idea of the main contenders.

Racing starts at 11.00. Follow it on Twitter (right hand column) and through the online tracking at www.tractrac.com/fgc

Tuesday, 7 July 2009

Twittering from a RIB

Twittering from the bottom of a wet RIB is not the easiest thing to do. That's assuming the boat is in the right place to see what you are supposed to be twittering about. It has its own duties and can't always get to the right place in time.

So if the twits don't make sense, or there are gaps in the story, it is probably because I am sheltering on the RIB floor, wiping spray off the phone's screen, sheilding it from the glare of the sun and being bounced up and down by the waves. And all the time making enough notes to write the reports, and take photos and videos for this blog. It can get quite hectic.

But we'll continue to try and bring the best of the day's action through these various mediums.

Thanks for looking.

Robert

Some photos from Tuesday's racing

Various sailors free pumping

Sequence with Zach Railey (USA), Dan Slater (NZL), Andrew Mills (GBR), Mark Andrews (GBR)

Start of race four

First the general recalled start. Then the real start under black flag.

Marin Misura (CRO) gets a yellow flag

Perfect hospitality

The free beer and sandwiches are strategically placed just a few steps from the launching area.

Tuesday's report is posted

http://www.finnclass.org/FGC%20Results/finn_gold_cup_2009.htm#Day%202%20-%20Steadier%20breeze%20brings%20favourites%20to%20front%20at%20Finn%20Gold%20Cup%20in%20Denmark

Summary of the day's racing

Two great races in a southerly 9-14 knots brought most of the favourites to the front with ample chances to free pump downwind. Giles Scott led for the whole first race, while Jonas Hogh Christensen won the second race on the final downwind, with the top ten crossing the line in rolling waves and great surfing conditions in about 10 seconds. Two sixth places for Zach Railey leaves him leading the regatta with Scott in second and Dan Slater in third.

Plenty of high scores are still mixing things up, so it's going to be interesting when the discard kicks in after the next race.

Full results on event website http://www.fgc-2009.com/

Full report later