International Moth Worlds at Horsens, Denmark - Day 2
by Adam May 25 Jul 2006 22:29 BST
22-29 July 2006
It looked like the breeze was in for day 2, but as the fleet sailed out to the start it was shifty with +/- 20 degree shifts and pressure changes across the course.
Race 3 saw a clean start and Britain's Adam May clear ahead at the windward mark, Simon Payne recovered from an average beat to pull up to second in hot pursuit of Adam. Reigning World Champion Rohan Veal went round third, neck and neck with Jason Belben. Payne closed the gap downwind, but May responded with a killer beat to (once again) lead comfortably at the windward mark. Payne and Veal gybed into more breeze and the three boats went round the gybe mark with nothing in it. With three spectacular foil borne gybes, pausing only for the camera of internationally aclaimed sailing photographer Thierry Martinez, the three raced downwind. Payne stole the lead on the run to the leeward mark but it was Veal who tacked first and hooked into the new pressure, and ultimately this was his winning move. At the finish it was Veal from Payne, with May third and Pascoe fourth.
The second race of the day developed with Veal early out of the blocks, tracked by Belben and May with Mark Robinson of Singapore in the frame. Germany's Sven Kloppenburg got the hole shot and led at the windward mark by a huge margin. ISAF president Goran Petersson watched the future of sailing as the chasing pack led by Belben, raced down wind and chased down Kloppenburg. Normal order was resumed by the end of lap two with Payne round the windward mark first for the final time with Veal and May on his hip. A solid beat from Payne ensured the same postions at the final windward mark and the roller coaster ride to the finish began. With gusts appearing from all directions Paynes lead was seriously stressed as the others gybe into more pressure. At the finish Payne crossed just three seconds in front of a hard charging Veal making a giant kangaroo hop over May and Belben who were locked together in a windless vacuum likened to outer space.
After 4 intense close races the series is still wide open and the fleet go into the lay day for a well earned rest, courtesy of an evening of free drinks and fun sponsored by KA Sail.
More photos are available on www.thmartinez.com
Results after Day 2:
1st Simon Payne 3,1,2,1, 7pts
2nd Rohan Veal 1,4,1,2, 8pts
3rd Adam May 2,2,3,4, 11pts
4th Jason Belben 5,3,5,3, 16pts
5th Sam Pascoe 4,5,4,5, 18pts
6th Mark Robinson 6,6,6,8, 26pts
7th Alex Adams 7,7,7,7, 28pts
8th Alex Knight 9,8,11,10, 38pts
9th John Ilett 8,9,9,16, 42pts
10th Ian Forsdike 11,10,8,13, 42pts