Day 6 - Races 7 &
8: Nicholsons are Back!
Friday, 13th December 2002
The Fremantle Doctor is still missing; we are still hoping he turns up tomorrow for the last race. It was another long day, though not as long as yesterday, with everyone off the water by about 6:00PM.
We are still waiting for results for race 8 to be posted, by talking with the top teams, we have the following provisional results.
Chris and Darren Nicholson, 1992 and 1993 International 505 World Champions -- before Chris moved into Grand Prix 18s winning two titles, and then 49ers where he won three consecutive 49er World Championships -- won both races today, while yesterday's leaders faltered. Dan Thompson/Andy Zinn finishing 14 and 10, Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin getting 3 and 8 and Bergstrom/Moss posting 7 and 5. Barker/Cripps also did not have a stellar day, though they were 9th in the first race. Other stars of the day were Sydneysiders Michael Quirk/Geoff Lange were 2nd and 3rd today, which should pull them up in the standings from their mid twenties standing overall after race 6.
Both races were in light to medium conditions with the breeze building to 9 or 10 knots half way through the second race allowing the 505 to plane to windward. It was also possible to wire run in the stronger puffs.
With two drops after eight races, the Nicholsons (AUS) are in a controlling position with 20 points. Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin (USA-Team Tuesday) are second with 22 points. Krister Bergstrom/Thomas Moss (SWE) are third with 26 points, Dan Thompson/Andy Zinn (USA-Team Tuesday) have 28 points good for fourth overall, while Ian Barker/Daniel Cripps (GBR) are fifth with 31 points.
Andy Beeckman/Ben Benjamin who were in 4th place after race 6, had finishes of 29, 13 today putting them at 46 points overall, outside the top five.
Things are rather more complicated when one considers what the drops are. Hamlin/Martin have DSQ, 8 as drops. Barker/Cripps have DSQ, 19 as drops, while Nicholsons have DNF, 41 for drops. In contrast Bergstrom/Moss have two sevenths as drops, while Thompson/Zinn have 22,14 as drops. If any of these teams have bad races tomorrow that they drop from their scores, the lower score of the two current drops will be included in their score. So in theory, Nicholsons could have a DSQ or DNF tomorrow and have to count a 41. Barker/Cripps would be counting a 19 if they have a worse race tomorrow. Bergstrom/Moss, Hamlin/Martin and Thompson/Zinn are less vulnerable, as they would be counting a 7, an 8 and a 14 as drops.
Apparently the top four teams are going out for dinner together; we're all good friends in the 505 class. They all had dinner together last night too.
"If it is windy tomorrow", said five time 505 World Champion Krister Bergstrom, "things are going to be interesting."
Complete results should be posted at:
Progressive Results After
Race 8
Alexander Meller
President, International 505 Class Yacht Racing Association
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International