After a long delay ashore on Monday morning because of light and fluky winds, everyone was on the water to take advantage of the sea breeze which came up with the sunnier weather in the afternoon.
The viewpoint from the French Laser coach boat was impressive, with Jean-Baptiste Bernaz getting a few last tips on position in the boat, favoured wind side (left) and tidal state (changing quite quickly) from Lionel Pellegrino, while the fleet milled around waiting for the race committee to decide the wind had steadied enough to risk a start.
They got one good race in, in which JB managed a creditable 10th, but it was deemed too late to start another that day, so everyone got a tow from their own or someone else's coach boat back to the Academy - right through Castle Cove's start line because the RSX windsurfers and 2.4s were still racing in Portland harbour, which gave an idea of how difficult getting around our waters will be next year...Tuesday 1500, and the wind is around 28 knots - the windward mark is a testing place for the 49er fleet, and it only got worse as the 'accidents', as they are called, increased. At one point around half the fleet were over at the same time!
Submitted on 8th June 2011