As advised by Race Officer on Tuesday morning, the Flying Fifteen Pre-Worlds fleet completed three races in view of a forecast that suggested we may not get out on Wednesday.
Two windward-leeward races of two laps followed by a full sausage-triangle-sausage saw the on the water time similar to yesterday but more races sailed. The fleet also cooperated with the programme by getting away first time under a U Flag. As the race officer advised the purpose of the regatta is to race not get starting practice.
The conditions were more benign than Monday and indeed there were instances where crews were sitting in board.
The top ten now only has a solitary imposter, the Australian combination of Mike Hart & Dean McAullay; AUS 4063 whose results are 3, 7, 6, 3 & 4, good enough for 4th overall.
All the other “top-tenners” are from GBR, led by Nathan Batchelor & Richard Rigg; GBR 4070 whose scoreline is 7, 4, 1, 1, 3. Richard Lovering & Matt Alvarado; GBR 4002 are “demoted” to 2nd with race results of 1, 3, 5, 7, 1 leaving them with a 1-point deficit to the top spot. In third are Greg Wells & Andrew Jameson; GBR 5, 6, 2, 11, 2.
The South Africans Campbell Alexander & David Berridge RSA 4009 are 11th (11, 19, 10, 17, 6) followed by the first of the Irish fleet, David Gorman & Chris Doorly; IRL 3920 with a 19, 15, 12, 13, 14 and they in turn are just ahead of the Martin Brothers, Andy & Rory who have a scoreline of 18, 12, 18, 8, 24.
On Tuesday night the fleet were entertained by a group of speakers that include a member of the Irish Women’s Hockey Team that made the World Cup Final last year, Joan Molloy Irish solo sailor, Steve Goacher, Current Flying Fifteen World Champion and Prof O’Connell, a member of an Irish Melges 24 World Championship winning team dealing with the aspects of sport psychology.
With the Dublin Bay buoy recording 23 knots with gusts in the low thirties, the obvious decision, to cancel Wednesday’s racing was taken by Race Officer Jack Roy.
Overall Results: (top ten)
1 Nathan Batchelor & Richard Rigg 9pts
2 Richard Lovering & Matt Alvarado 10pts
3 Greg Wells & Andrew Jameson 15pts
4 Mike Hart & Dean McAullay 16pts
5 Graham Vials & Chris Turner 20pts
11 Campbell Alexander & Dave Berridge 44pts
12 David Gorman & Chris Doorly 54pts
13 Andy & Rory Martin 56pts
The first Irisman in the overall placing is Alan Green in the Anglo Irish combination with Charles Apthorp – finishing 8th overall.
In the Silver Fleet the honours go to the South African combination of Patrick Harris & Jeremy Kriek in 20th, followed by Lee Statham & Andy Paul (21st) (IRL) and Ashley Smith & Charles Apthorp (Jnr) (AUS) in 22nd.
In Bronze the honours go to Alistair Stevenson & Jeremy Valentine (GBR) in 36th, followed by Ben Mulligan & Cormac Bradley (37th) and Tom Murphy & Carel la Roux (39th), the latter two being part of the host fleet.
Prize-giving is scheduled for 18:00 with an Irish night to follow.
