Ian Pinnell / Steve Hunt -- Boys on Tour GBR8774

Friday, 6th December 2002 

I have not seen reports from the event on 505world after the first one. I'm hoping reports are going to the media distribution list and are showing up on various sailing web sites such as Yachts and Yachting. I have asked that the same reports go to 505world, but that does not appear to be happening yet.

So.....

It is Friday December 6 afternoon, about 18:40 as I write this. We had two races today after an onshore postponement. After getting only one race yesterday, the race officer altered the schedule to have three races today, starting at 9:00AM. The Indian Ocean was glassy smooth when we arrived at the club at 7:30 or so, and stayed that way through two postponements. I went for a swim from the beach next door to the club.

The breeze eventually filled in and we had two races in 8-12 knots. These were races 5 and 6.

Pip and I were in the hunt early in both races, but fell back. So I cannot provide a tack by tack blow by blow description of the races. The gate starts are working very well -- they almost always do -- and the fleet is very close at the first windward and first leeward marks. Things do tend to spread out a little on the reaches, but the racing was very close. In race 6, we crossed the finish line (at the end of the second run) at the same time as about four or five other boats.

Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin won race 6. Macy Nelson/Jesse Falsone, who were the rabbit, finished second. Conditions allowed wire running at times, so knowing when to wire run and when to go low were key. 

The prize presentation for the Australian Nationals and Worlds are in another twenty minutes, so this report will have to end here.

Alexander Meller
President, International 505 Class Yacht Racing Association