2014 A-Class World Championships at Takapuna Boating Club - Overall
by Kerry Ellis 16 Feb 2014 14:07 GMT
9-16 February 2014
ETNZ sailors A Class above the rest
The final day of racing scheduled in the A Class Catamaran World Championships was basically a drifter when the crews arrived at the Takapuna Boating club this morning.
There was one race for the final day, but after waiting on the water for an hour the committee called the boats back to the beach to wait for some breeze.
As seems to be always the case, once the boats hit the beach the fingers of breeze extended towards the shore, finally allowing enough wind to convince the race committee to call for a start.
The sailors were ready and charged for the final race, with the eagerness causing more than half the fleet to be over the line early; triggering a recall. The second start saw the black flag flying, leaving no room for error. The fleet made a more cautious start toward the pin end, sailing out toward the left hand side of the course.
Ashby was among the leaders off the line followed by Tuke and Burling looking for wind in toward the shore before heading out to the middle of the course. By the top mark Ashby had secured the lead. At the first bottom mark it was still Ashby followed by Peter Melvin and Blair Tuke. Most of the fleet appeared to favour the shore and left side of the course following Glenn Ashby. Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Nathan Outteridge took the right hand side of the course on the final beat hoping for a wind shift to allow them to make a significant gain on Glenn Ashby. The wind shifted some 120 degrees and in the end the right paid dividends, compressing the frontrunners, and giving many a chance by the final top mark. Glenn Ashby had a bad gybe at the top mark and left the door open for Nathan Outteridge to pass on the run home.
Nathan Outerridge crossed ahead of Glenn Ashby from Ray Davies and Blair Tuke. Nathan Outerridge had built his reputation for being a master in light conditions and displayed his immense talent by foiling across the line to a round of Australian Cheering.
The final race results did little to upset the leader board, and if anything go on to cement the three top racers in their podium places. The 2014 A-Class World Champion is Glenn Ashby (AUS), second is Blair Tuke (NZL) with Peter Burling (NZL) in third.
Most notable perhaps is the fact that the top four places are all members of the America's cup syndicate Emirates Team New Zealand.
Glen Ashby said at the finish, "It's one from the best world championships I've been to from the point of view of all the new technology introduced to the class and the ideas from people from all over the world here at the regatta."
Provisional Overall Results: (top seven)
1st Glenn Ashby, 13pts
2nd Blair Tuke, 30pts
3rd Peter Burling, 40pts
4th Andrew Landenberger, 42pts
5th Ray Davies, 49pts
6th Nathan Outteridge, 53pts
7th Scott Andersen, 54pts
Full overall results can be found here.
Nigel Lovett, the sole British Entry in the A Class Catamaran World Championships, finished a creditable 41st overall having sailed for the first time in 18 months, in a fleet of multi-Olympians, professionals and AC team crew.
www.sailingeventstakapuna.com/webpages/a-class-catamaran-world-championship