Zhik Nautica Moth Worlds at Vela Club Campione del Garda - GBR roundup
by Gareth Davies 6 Sep 2012 21:07 BST
19-26 August 2012
For many of the UK fleet this was to be their first International Moth World Championships. The UK fleet were in good spirits going into the championship and after current European Champion Chris Rashley won the UK National championship, he was making his intentions quite clear, but this is Moth racing and only a fool would dare make any prediction on the top flyer's in such a star flooded fleet from 20 countries across the globe and with 120+ moths entered.
Day 1 Qualification Series
The fleet were split into blue and yellow. The wind was light around 10 knots which often lead to less breeze at the windward mark which gave for some low riding at the top mark. There was an inner and outer course. The sailors on the inner course were all trying to get to the cliffs for more breeze and a bit of lift on the way back out but this can make judgeing the layline to the windward mark difficult. The outer course was a bit more tactical up the beat with sometimes it helped if you sailed left up the course and other times the right side of the course.
UK sailors put in a good shift with:
Chris Rashley scoring 4, 7, 4, to be in 9th overall
Rob Greenhalgh scoring 4,12,8 to be in 13th overall
Ricky Tagg scoring 11, 6, 8 to be in 14th overall
Simon Payne scoring 6,9,11 to be in 16th overall
Ben Paton scoring 12,12,7 to be in 18th
Tom Offer scoring 17, 8, 9, to be in 20th overall
After day one six Brits where in the top 20 a great result.
Day 2
There was an unstable light brezze and after a few hour of waiting for the breeze to fill in the race officer sent us all back to shore.
Day 3
The much sort after Mothapalooza award was going to be awarded this is given to the boats which is the most decorative and the judges base their marks on sail, hull, foils and the person sailing it. Once again the Brits were represented in this prize with Andrew Friend and Richie Westbury both doing their bit. Andrew was awarded 2nd overall and collected a prize of £1500.
Day 4
The first race got underway in 10 knots of breeze and the USA and Aussie dominated again in the racing but the Brits were still chasing hard. The second race got underway in a fading 'Ora' which forced the race committee to shorten the race. It was a very tough race with large holes in the breeze but this did not stop Chris Rashley chalking up his first win in the blue fleet.
The fleet will now be split into Gold and Silver for the remaining nine races.
Day 5
The 'Ora' wind kicked in today at 15 knots and the wait was well worth it for the first race of the day. The second race saw a lighter breeze as did the third but still great conditions for moth sailing.
The British gold fleet top 22 after day 5:
8th Chris Rashley
9th Jason Belben
12th Simon Payne
17th Tom Offer
19th Rob Greenhalgh
20th Ben Paton
21st Peter Barton
22nd Mike Lennon
A mention must also go to James Phare who qualified in 59th place who scored a 14th, 14th 13th on the first day of gold fleet.
Day 6
The breeze kicked in for the first race of the day with no real tricks up it sleeve hit the cliff as soon as possible.The second race got going in a fresher and steadier breeze and the 3rd race again was sailed in a great breeze which lead to be the best sailing day of the regatta.
Final Day was sailed in the morning breeze the 'Peler' as violent storms were forecast for the afternoon. The first race got underway in 25 knots of breeze and 1 metre waves making for some great down wind rides.The second race got underway but the brutal conditions had taken it toll even on the Gold fleet with over 20 boats missing.
The Third race got underway with the 'Peler' dieing as the sun broke threw with the breeze staying long enough to complete the Race.
The race committee then called out the silver fleet for a race and only just managed to finish the race and get all the boats ashore before a storm stopped play for the rest of the regatta.
Gold Fleet Brits
7th Chris Rashley
9th Simon Payne
13th Jason Belben
15th Tom Offer
19th Rob Greenhalgh
22nd Peter Barton
23rd Ricky Tagg
24th Mike Lennon
26th James Phare
28th Gareth Davies
36th Andrew Friend
37th Ben Paton
38th Olivier Vidal
40th Richard Westbury
47th Mike Cooke
48th Jason Russell
60th Simon Hiscock
Silver Fleet Brits
5th Doug Pybus
9th Oliver Holden
13th Leigh Albrecht
15th Neil Barker
20th Alex Koukorakis
22nd John Peats
28th Dan Ward
45th Chris Jeeves
51st Rob Cage
Chris Rashley also held onto his European Championship as he was the highest placed European, Simon Payne and Jason Belben made it a brit 1,2,3, for all the European spots.
This event places the class in good position for the ever approaching worlds at Hayling Island Sailing club in 2014 and with a bit of practice and home advantage who knows how many top10 finishers there will be from the UK. But First some of the British moth Team will sure to be representing at the next World Championship in Ha wail.
If you are thinking of joining the class there is still time and with 30 boats from the UK attending the Worlds you can see how big the class has become. And with a very active Training Programme there's no time like the present.
Good Flying