Tough wind and sea conditions
The least we can say, is that weather conditions did not facilitate 2025 Worlds start…
After no races on Day 1, due to (very) strong wind, competitors had to face a big shore break when D flag has been displayed, inviting the two fleets to reach their respective racing course.
When some unfortunately capsized due to the waves power, and when some cautiously stayed on the beach, Yellow fleet started to play on Course A, and Blue fleet on Course B.
Yellow Fleet
In the Yellow group, Jolbert van Dijk & Frank de Waard (NED) scored one second and one bullet, taking the lead ahead Liddell brothers (AUS, 1, 4), Argies Cruz Gonzalez-Smith & Mariano Heuser (8,2), Noordzij father & son (NED, 3,8) in a tie with an other family team (Lindstaedt son & father, GER, 6, 5) and French pair Gurvan Bontemps-Raphaël Censier, 5, 6).
Blue Fleet
Situation has been more complicated on Bravo Course, where Race Committee hardly succeed in completing one race, facing heavy anchor problems, and being forced to send the sailors back ashore after one race only.
The one race get to Gavin Colby & Kai Colman (AUS), second Pablo Völker & Federico Polimeni (ESP), third Emeric Dary & David Fanouillère (FRA), fourth Cedric Bader & Yves Peters (FRA), fifth Darren Bundock & Bjarne Bouwer (AUS) despite two (!) capsizes, and sixth Ravi Parent & Lena Weisskichel (USA), all this being very provisional…
Some breakages… and a few injuries
Of course, some rudders and daggerboards didn’t survive the launching, but, more importantly, our friend Patrick Demesmaeker injured his fingers after his trapeze cable broke when he had the sheet wrapped around the hand… Fortunately enough, not too serious, and the spirit is still there!
Races to come
No other choice on Wednesday than to try to complete four races in the Blue Fleet, and three in the Yellow Fleet (or three and two respectively) to bring the two groups with equal number of races, then to possibly mix up the groups for the remaining qualification races to sail.
The Class is currently working on possible changes in the schedule, both respecting the needed number of qualification races, and permitting one possible discard in final series.
For more information
Gallery
All pictures by Laurens Morel
