GOACHER TAKES THE LEAD

Flying Fifteen sailors enjoyed a third day of sparkling sunshine and light SW breezes, as they added another two windward leeward races in Portland Harbour.

Two crews scored well on both races to climb up the leaderboard, while many others managed only one good race to count.

Racing was held in the afternoon, and the breeze was up to 7kts at the start of the first race. At the windward mark, it was three of the leaders in contention, with Australians Ashley Smith and Kym Thumpkin leading at the top, followed by Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans and Richard Lovering/ Matt Alvarado. In this race most of the frontrunners stayed there. On the third beat, Goacher closed on Smith, and took the lead at the spreader mark. He held his lead to win by just two boat lengths from Smith, with Alan Bax/James Grant gaining a place to take third.

The breeze stayed at 6 kts allowing a quick start to the longest race yet, of three rounds plus a beat. However, of the top three at the windward mark, two were given OCS, Ashley Smith and Richard Lovering, altering the picture at the front when they left the race. So the leader was Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet. They maintained their lead to the finish. Goacher/ Evans improved from sixth at the first windward mark to second by the finish, despite pressure from Alan Bax/ James Grant, who held position well to take third.

The big winners on the day were Goacher/Evans who moved into a six point lead, from day 2 leaders Hart and Davy. Bax/ Grant were the other gainers, and their two good results lifted them to third overall, just a point behind Hart/ Davy. Two days of racing remain, with the best winds expected on the final day, and another discard soon to kick in, which could change the positions.

Many Flying Fifteens are sailed by mixed teams, including husband/ wife and parent/ child combinations. Mixed teams often do well in the class, and husband/ wife teams have won World Championships. Best of the mixed teams here are Australians Ashley Smith/ Kym Thumpkin, who currently are in fifth overall, with Kym a strong contender to gain the prize for highest placed female sailor.


Results (subject to protest)
 Race 5
1. Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC
2. Ashley Smith/ Kym Thumpkin, Sandgate YC, AUS
3. Alan Bax/ James Grant, Hayling Island SC
Race 6
1. Ian Cadwallader/ Dave Sweet, Chew Valley Lake SC
2. Steve Goacher/ Phil Evans, Royal Windermere YC
3. Dave Tabb/ Chewey Sherrell, Parkstone YC
Positions overall after six races, after one discard
1. Goacher/ Evans, 13pts
2. Mike Hart/ Jeremy Davy, 19pts
3. Bax/ Grant, 20pts
 

18/7/2013 09:43