Etchells Worlds Day 3 - Who is the King after four races?

by Sail-World.com on 22 Feb 2012 Etchells Worlds 2012. It was a crazy day offshore yesterday with Etchells racing being impossibleas the winds gusted into the mid 30’s against a two knot set.

On the morning of day 3 of the championship there was clear blue sky with some small cumulus clouds on the southern horizon.

Before the start of racing, a greatly relieved PRO Ross Wilson reported from the course area off Sydney Heads ‘A metre and a half swell with gradually building breeze, now up to around 10 knots.’

He said the target for today was two races, each of 90-100 minutes duration.

The first race was scheduled for 12 noon local time, on course 2, 190 degrees to the top mark and 2.5nm distance, and Wilson’s plan was to start on time. With around 12 knots of breeze, the swell at around 1.5 metres was set to challenge the helms.

After two general recalls the first race started under black flag. First reports called Ian Anderson (7PS), Bill Steele (Dragon Lady/Una Mas), James McHugh (Anamchara) as black flagged. Marco Cimarosti's boat (Motomar )was apparently damaged in the pre-start and was under the safety boat.

Jud Smith (Roulette) led at the top mark, follow by James McHugh, who shortly left the course, next came Cameron Miles (The Hole Way) the 1999 World Champion ahead of young Murray Gordon (Hydrotherapy) from RPAYC, the first race winner, sailing well.

Then came Vince Brun, with Michael Coxon midboat, Mark Thornburrow, veteran John Savage (WC twice) and John Bertrand, 2010 World Champion (Triad), ahead of Jervis Tilly (Bushfire). Tom King, the 2011 Mooloolaba midwinter champion was 10th, Peter McNeill, the 2004 World Champion (Iris 111) 11th and 'GT' Graeme Taylor (Magpie), the Series leader, was 16th.

It was Smith then Mark Thornburrow (Racer X) at the bottom mark. Miles was third ahead of Savage, Brun and Tom King with 'GT' picking up five places down the run.

At the top mark the second time, looking skywards, there was light cloud with 12-14 knot breeze round to about 170. The swell was easing; it was 1.5 metres at the start, by then down to a metre.

It was Smith, the 2006 World Champion well clear. Next came Thornburrow, Miles, Tom King, Alistair Gair (Velsheda), John Savage (Southern Light), Bertrand, Vince Brun (Menace), Noel (Nitro) Drennan (Boat X), Rupert Henry (Vivienne) and Graeme Taylor.

Jud Smith cleared out down the last run, he finished about eight boat lengths ahead of Cameron Miles, with Mark Thornburrow only a little over a length back. Then came Tom King, John Bertrand, Vince Brun, Rupert Henry, John Savage, Peter McNeill, Doug McGain (Ciao), 'GT' and Murray Gordon.

*All places unofficial.

Race 4 - Heading 165, leg length 2.5nm and with the breeze blowing at about 14 knots and a swell still around a metre.

First up there was a general recall followed by a black flag start. Three boats were called over; Phil Coombs (J for Jig), Cam Miles ((surely a blow) and Michael Bellingham (Avalon).

Heading up the first beat it was a close fight between Mark Thornburrow (Hong Kong), West Australian Dirk Van der Struyf (Animal House) and Jud Smith. These three certainly had excellent starts, Tom King and Noel Drennan were in the mix as the leaders approached the top mark for the first time.

It was 'Nitro' Drennan ahead of Tom King by two lengths at the top mark then Jud Smith, having a great day, third overlapped, was Mark Langford from Lake Macquarie Yacht Club.

As the fleet came down the run PRO Ross Wilson commented ' with less current today and only a metre of swell and 14-16 knots of wind, this is champagne sailing. A welcome relief after yesterdays horror.'

First around the bottom mark was Drennan, then about three boat lengths to Jud Smith, then Michael Manford from Western Australia then Tom King. Behind them was Matthew Chew, Mark Langford, Thornburrow, Van Der Struyf, David Rose (This Will Make Her Scream), Tom Braidwood (Extra Bad Doll), Damian King (Barry) and Graeme Taylor.

At the top mark for the second time Drennan had a huge lead over Smith, then Tom King, then another big gap to Matthew Chew (Gen XY), Michael Manford (The Croc), Mark Langford (Critical Balance), David Clark (Fifteen) and then John Bertrand.

As they approached the finish Drennan was unchallenged. Behind him was Smith, Langford, Chew, Taylor, Van der Sturyf all coming from different angles.

At the finish of race 4 'Nitro' Drennan crossed first, followed by Tom King, Jud Smith, Matthew Chew, Mark Langford, John Bertrand, Michael Manford and David Clark - unofficial results.*

After four races Australian Tom King, the 2000 Olympic 470 Gold medallist and his Iron Lotus crew is leading the World Championship with Jud Smith (Roulette) second and Graeme Taylor (Magpie) third. Fourth is John Bertrand
ahead of Murray Gordon, Noel Drennan and Alastair Gair. The drop comes in after five races and that should tighten the series, as Smith has a second race 19 of which to dispose.


More details shortly.

Etchells World Championships 2012
18-25 February, 2012
Boat Information Race
Place Bow Country Sail Skipper 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
1 25 AUS 925 * Tom King 2 6 3 2 13
2 66 AUS 1377 Jud Smith 3 19 1 3 26
3 47 AUS 947 Graeme Taylor 4 1 12 10 27
4 03 AUS 1383 John Bertrand 5 21 4 6 36
5 70 AUS 875 * Murray Gordon 1 15 13 16 45
6 15 AUS 1215 Noel Drennan 30 10 9 1 50
7 10 NZL 950 Alastair Gair 6 30 5 12 53
8 56 AUS 1356 Michael Manford 15 4 29 7 55
9 64 AUS 864 Matthew Chew 21 11 19 4 55
10 38 AUS 1338 * Mark Langford 22 13 16 5 56
11 27 USA 1227 Vincent Brun 7 2 6 46 61
12 61 AUS 1361 Mark Tonner-Joyce 29 5 20 15 69
13 31 AUS 831 Brett Ellis 20 12 14 23 69
14 08 AUS 876 David Clark 27 20 15 8 70
15 37 AUS 1337 * Rupert Henry 36 18 7 32 93
16 26 AUS 1226 John Savage 44 33 8 9 94
17 44 AUS 1244 Douglas McGain 8 22 11 54 95
18 06 AUS 1306 Cameron Miles 12 8 2 75 bfd 97
19 32 AUS 1325 Peter McNeill 75 dnf 9 10 14 108
20 20 AUS 1320 * Dirk Van Der Struyf 47 27 23 13 110
21 40 AUS 1254 Peter Merrington 34 3 25 51 113
22 57 AUS 1387 * Mark Bulka 31 43 18 24 116
23 35 AUS 1358 Mark Richards 23 7 37 50 117
24 67 AUS 867 Tom Braidwood 19 28 59 11 117
25 62 AUS 1362 * Ross Lloyd 38 25 28 27 118
26 22 AUS 1192 * Jamie Woods 61 24 17 19 121
27 74 AUS 874 Chris Hampton 11 58 31 22 122
28 30 AUS 1347 Vaughan Prentice 10 34 51 31 126
29 69 HKG 1269 Mark Thornburrow 13 23 75 bfd 17 128
30 72 AUS 882 Brendon Jukes 52 17 33 29 131
31 23 AUS 1392 David Rose 39 26 49 21 135
32 33 HKG 1333 Ante Razmilovic 16 29 40 53 138
33 04 AUS 1384 Steve OÕRourke 56 37 30 20 143
34 52 AUS 1052 Chris Rabbidge 26 35 38 52 151
35 55 GBR 987 Robert Elliott 25 61 26 42 154
36 49 BER 1249 Tim Patton 41 44 35 34 154
37 21 SIN 1021 * Jervis Tilly 32 16 63 44 155
38 14 AUS 1144 * David Healey 68 38 21 28 155
39 02 AUS 1268 Robert Weir 51 42 32 30 155
40 12 AUS 1250 * Matt Whitnall 46 45 22 48 161
41 54 GBR 1354 David Franks 50 36 34 41 161
42 05 AUS 511 * Gordon Hinds 45 41 44 35 165
43 36 AUS 936 Shane Deussen 17 52 65 33 167
44 07 SUI 1187 James McHugh 62 14 75 bfd 18 169
45 24 AUS 924 * Damien King 42 31 75 dnc 25 173
46 11 AUS 1311 * Paul Henshall 35 62 41 36 174
47 01 AUS 1401 * Richard Hammond 14 60 62 39 175
48 75 GBR 1331 James Howells 9 75 ocs 53 40 177
49 65 AUS 1024 * Guyon Wilson 54 39 27 59 179
50 73 AUS 1273 Ed McCarthy 60 57 36 38 191
51 63 AUS 963 Grantham Kitto 18 75 dnf 24 75 dnc 192
52 39 BER 898 Mark Watson 24 66 39 63 192
53 16 AUS 1163 Mark Anderson 59 40 47 47 193
54 34 AUS 1134 * David Seaton 43 47 67 37 194
55 53 AUS 1253 * Mark Doyle 33 63 57 49 202
56 09 AUS 1399 Ian Crisp 55 48 54 45 202
57 18 USA 1198 * Scott Kaufman 58 32 42 75 dnc 207
58 58 NZL 1058 John Melville 53 46 50 65 214
59 29 AUS 892 * Craig Coulsen 49 64 46 56 215
60 45 AUS 1385 * Jason Ward 65 49 61 43 218
61 46 AUS 1346 * Michael Bellingham 40 56 48 75 bfd 219
62 68 AUS 868 Jeanne-Claude Strong 48 75 dsq 43 61 227
63 19 AUS 991 * Jake Gunther 28 75 ocs 52 75 dnc 230
64 43 AUS 1343 Peter Gardner 75 dnf 75 ocs 55 26 231
65 60 UAE 1386 * Jan Muysken 57 54 60 60 231
66 41 AUS 941 * Phillip Coombs 37 75 ocs 45 75 bfd 232
67 28 AUS 1288 * Robert Holm 64 55 56 58 233
68 59 AUS 869 * John Paul 63 51 64 64 242
69 42 AUS 943 * Burke Melia 75 dsq 53 66 55 249
70 71 AUS 1291 Don Wilson 69 65 58 62 254
71 17 AUS 1117 * Ian Anderson 67 59 75 bfd 57 258
72 51 ITA 1351 Marco Cimarosti 66 50 75 dnf 75 dnc 266
73 50 AUS 1150 * Bill Steele 75 dnc 75 dnc 75 bfd 66 291
74 48 USA 1248 Leon Christianakis 75 dnc 75 dnc 75 dnc 75 dnc 300
* denotes Corinthian status