11:58 PM Fri 11 Sep 2009 GMT
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Six Metre Class
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Today, rainsqualls and limited visibility added to the strong northeast wind, which, at times gusted up to 22 knots, during the 6mR World Cup on Narragansett Bay. Two races were run for both the Modern and Classic Divisions, starting in the vicinity of Gould Island, the course was comprised of four 1.5nm legs set at 065 degrees.
In the Classics Division, Titia (GBR-22) won both races of the day (5 and 6 of the series) co-skippered by Andy Postle and Andy Prince. In the first race, Postle credited 'a clean start, getting good lanes, keeping it simple and favoring the right side of the course' with their success.
Titia was able to pull ahead by staying on the outside at the second weather mark rounding and led the fleet downwind to the finish. Eric Jespersen's Gallant (KC-10) came second with Peter Koljonen-Astrand's Fridolin (FIN-12), finishing third. Of the second race of the day, Prince, Titia's winning co-skipper said 'we were buried at the committee boat end at the start but were able to break through and get out to the right side of the course, where we stayed until we got to the layline. By the first mark rounding we had a 6- boat length lead, which we were able to extend on the first run. During the second beat a rain squall came through but when we emerged from the rain and fog we saw the finish and were happy to head for home.'
The overall scores for the Classic Division to date show Eric Jesperson's Gallant (KC-10) in first place with 12 points, followed by Postle/Pope's Titia (GBR-22) with 16 points and Peter Kolijonen-Astrand's Fridolin (FIN-12) with 18 points.
In the Modern Division's first race of the day (protests pending), Sophie II (SWE-132) skippered by Hugo Stenbeck was first across the finish line followed by Arunga (US-118) sailed by Bob Cadranell with Patric Fredell's May Be XIV (SWE-115) coming in third.
Jonas Haggabom, Sophie II's tactician said: 'Our boat really likes these conditions and we are very happy with our speed. We keep it simple by minimizing maneuvers, which minimizes mistakes. We had a good start at the pin end while most of the fleet chose the committee boat side of the line. We held our starting tack out to the layline and were among the first three boats to the weather mark. By the first downwind mark we were well ahead and continued to extend our lead for the last two legs and onward to the finish. We are very proud of Hugo (Stenbeck) as this is his first time helming in an international regatta.'
The second race of the day for the Modern Division (7th of the series) was dominated by the 'Roberts.' It was Bob Cadranell's Arunga (USA-118) who prevailed, followed by Robert Leigh-Wood's Lyonesse (GBR-90) with Rob Gray's Scoundrel (GBR-96) taking third. Arunga's Cadranell said: 'Happily we were at speed and on the line, at the gun. We were able to find a lane and tack over to the on the favored right-hand of the course. We only tacked once, on a header, and were able to lay the weather mark. From there we were in the lead and able to hold on to repeat our right-side strategy for the second upwind and downwind legs to the finish.'
Again, pending protest results at press time, the overall scores in the Modern Division have Sophie II (SWE-132) in first place with 14 points, Scoundrel (GBR-96) in second with 16 points and Arunga (USA-118) in third position with 19 points.
Saturday's forecast calls for light east-northeastly winds from 5-10 knots to bookend the series conditions and wrap up the regatta.
Event website:
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Results:
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by 6mR World Cup Media
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