3rd RS Aero World Championship at Black Rock Yacht Club - Day 2
by RS Aero International Class Association 1 Jan 2020 10:19 UTC
28 December 2019 - 4 January 2020
3rd RS Aero World Championship - Day 1 © Lynn Billowes
The 3rd RS Aero World Championship kicked off proper in Melbourne Australia for nearly eighty RS Aeros from around the world with four races on Day 1, New Year's Eve, after racing was abandoned the day before due to 40 knots winds that incredibly came with 40'C temperatures!
Two back-to-back races were split by a nice lunch break before returning afloat for two more. Under clear blue skies the breeze increased from 12kn through to 20kn by the end of the day. The Port Phillip Bay waves built steadily providing a fantastic day's racing to open the Championship.
In the 29 boat RS Aero 5 fleet was led by Aussie ladies with Sophie Jackson AUS opening her account with a couple of firsts to take the overnight lead whilst Megan Ridgway AUS scored a trio of 2nds for a close second. Other race wins went to David Ellis GBR and Caitlin Atkin GBR.
The RS Aero 7s have the largest fleet with 38 entered. Marc Jacobi USA opened strongly with three bullets with Rhett Gowans AUS close behind with four 2nds. Youthful speedster Noah Rees GBR completes the podium with a string of 3rds and 4ths. Final race win of the day went to Peter Barton GBR as the breeze maxed.
The RS Aero 9s had an exciting time catching Port Phillip Bay's waves and where clean sweeped by Liam Willis GBR. Keith Willis GBR and Simon Reffold AUS completing the podium.
As is customary Top-Tips were duly extracted from all the lead sailors to share through the Class globally. In the RS Aero 5s Sophie emphasised the importance of decisive movement and steering to catch the waves on the run, whilst Megan favours a low fast mode upwind. In the powerful RS Aero 9s Liam Willis felt he had more vang than his competitors, 'buckling' the rig to tame the power of the larger sail. Marc Jacobi concentrated hard on his compass to compliment his strong boat speed with reduced distance by being quick to identify good shifts.
After an evening of New Year's Eve celebrations and day off on New Year's Day racing resumes on 2nd January with three more races.
Full results available here.
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