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Cascais Creates a Crescendo..
The first race of the Dragon World Championships saw a typical north-westerly trade wind of between 16 -26 knots which provided the fleet with boisterous conditions. The 2.5 mile first weather-leg offered the fleet a chance to show their true windward potential so as the 70 boat fleet smashed their way upwind it was not a coincidence that some of the best sailors in the world revelled in the amazing conditions.
Boats that started near the committee boat and immediately tacked towards the right sailed into less pressure and could only watch in pure frustration as the majority of the fleet made significant gains from the left. However, the trick was not to go too far left but to take the starting line port bias and make sure you got right by the top third of the beat. The geographical shift to the right from Guincho beach always brings more pressure with approximately a 10 degree lift so all the leaders decided to approach the 1st mark on starboard…
Lawrie Smith & his 4 man team had to settle for 2nd place yesterday in GBR 815 “Alfie”.
I spoke with Lawrie to congratulate him after the race, he explained “We realised there was more wind down the pin end of the line than the committee boat. So to go right immediately off the start was a definite no go for us”. How right you were Lawrie, as many of the pre-race favourite teams found out!
Holding onto a fine 3rd place yesterday were the current European Champions, RUS 27 “Annapurna” helmed by Anatoly Loginov, crewed by Vadim Statsenko & Alexander Shalagin. This very experienced team slightly over-stood the top mark which cost them several metres and in this game, at this level, every centimetre counts!
RUS 27 “Annapurna” sailed a great race to finish a comfortable 3rd behind Andy & Lawrie.
The downwind legs were most exhilarating as the boats surfed and rolled down the Atlantic waves. It’s probably not everyone’s “cup of tea” to thrash about in 20+ knots of breeze for 2 hours on a Monday afternoon, but for the 70 competing World Championship teams, Cascais delivered yesterday and we will all be back for more today 🙂
Higher, Faster, Longer…….. Stavros. (JPN 50).
P.S. Checkout many more “Amazing” photo’s from the talented Elena Razina !!