No Wind Brings Frustration

Day 5 of the ISAF Match Racing World Championship saw a fickle and frustrating breeze that rolled across the lake in fits and spurts. A 9.30 briefing and 10.30 start was welcomed by all after the previous long hard days.

In the morning a very marginal northerly breeze enabled the Race Committee to set a course and at 10.40 the first warning signal was raised. The first pair were able to start and make progress round up the first beat but the wind faded and after consulting with the match Umpires the Race Committee decided to abandon the flight. The fleet was sent ashore to stay out of the rising heat as a long day was on the cards. At 2pm a light easterly wafted in and looked promising for a time but the results were the same as the morning. In an attempt to cool off most of the race committee went for a swim in the lake and were joined by members of the umpire team, much to the amusement of the sailors. Sent ashore again things were not looking good and after a reconnaissance mission in one of the race boats by a few of the Umpire team and the Technical Delegate, racing was postponed for the day at 6.45pm.

So what next? With 7 flights left to complete the round robin, Saturday is likely to turn into a busy day. Once again the old favourite saying is being heard around the dock ‘It’s never normally like this’