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Bitipi in Front after Challenging Day on the Water
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| Mumm 30 World Championship - Bitipi in Front after Challenging Day on the Water |
| PORTOFERRAIO, ITALY-(9-10-2003) It was a very pleasant, if not challenging day on the water for the 41 boats competing at the Mumm 30 Worlds. All three races that were scheduled were completed in a light 6-11 knot shifty southeast wind. At least the bumps were gone, and the four leg windward leeward courses were sailed on flat water just beyond the entrance to the port. The wind direction started out at 145 and ended at 105 degrees, with some pretty big shifts throughout the day. Everyone was more conservative on their starts, the race committee didn't signal any individual or general recalls. There is no discard in the series, which helped to reign in the overanxious boats after yesterday's black flag scores.
The French charterers on Bite the Bullet were in the lead at the top mark of the first race of the day, and stretched out on the run to a position where they could not be caught. Boats were lined up five deep at the weather mark, and it was a traffic jam at the gate with up to 10 boats trying to fit in a space for five after the gate drifted too close. The sound of many languages shouting for room was heard across the water. Enfant Terrible and La Maracella di Dri Dri also stretched in front of the rest of the fleet and crossed the line in a photo finish for second and third respectively.
Race 3 of the series progressed with the wind continuing to shift to the left. The wind dropped a bit during the early afternoon as well, which mixed up the overall standings as the boats who were able to switch gears were ones that did not fare as well in the earlier conditions. Louis Brown's Asterix got it right for the line honors, and yesterday's race winners aboard Olympic showed their versatility by scoring second. Mummas VI liked the lighter wind as well, and posted their best score of third place.
There was a short wait under postponement while the line was reset for the last race of the day. The fleet only used half of the starting line, clustering close to the signal boat. As the sun dropped lower, the puffs got stronger on the course. The Italian team on Kismet took off like a rocket, and had a huge lead by the second windward mark.
The top three boats only have a point between them. Similar conditions are forecast for tomorrow, when racing will start at 11:00 a.m. to try and get four races completed. It is shaping up to be a tight race for the opportunity to be crowned Mumm 30 World Champion and receive the prestigious Royal Canadian Yacht Club trophy on Saturday afternoon.
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Source: Renee Mehl |
