Seawinds F18 Worlds
February 22, 2007 by Rob Kothe | 0 comments
Heavy weather on the first day of the 2007 Seawind F18 Worlds being sailed at Rydges Capricorn Resort off Yeppoon, Queensland. An eighty boat fleet from 12 nations started but sixteen boats capsized with three sailors requiring medical attention.
Heavy weather on the first day of the 2007 Seawind F18 Worlds being sailed
at Rydges Capricorn Resort off Yeppoon, Queensland. An eighty boat fleet
from 12 nations started but sixteen boats capsized with three sailors
requiring medical attention.
The forecast for the start of racing on Day 1 of the Seawind Formula 18
World Championship was for south easterly winds 20-25 knots.
A heavy swell from the last three days of southerly winds, made the launch
from the beach through the surf break exciting for the large numbers of
spectators on the beach.
At the start, the wind was blowing at hardly more than 15 knots, but the
swell was such that would normally be associated with around 25 knots.
The French pairing of Mourniac and Citeau (FRA) lead at the mark from
triple World Champion Mitch Booth and his crew Pim Nieuwenhis (NED), who
came in from the port layline and were close at the top mark.
Besson and Arnaud (FRA) were third, with the Spanish champions Echavarri
and Paz (ESP) in fifth place. Australians Bundock and Ashby were fourth at
the first mark.
As the wind continued to build so did the seas, to three metres, and as the
fleet ran down with the wind and waves at speeds of more than 20 knots,
boat after boat capsized.
In all sixteen boats retired from the race, after spectacular capsizes and
nose dives. Rescue boats assisted three Queensland sailors, who needed
medical attention.
At the second mark, Bundock and Ashby were third but catching the leaders
by the top mark for the third time, Bundock and Ashby were clearly leading
from Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhis.
The winners of Race 1 were Bundock and Ashby (AUS), ahead of Booth and
Nieuwenhis (NED) with Mourniac and Citeau (FRA) in third. Besson and
Jarlegan were fourth (FRA) with the Spaniards Echavarri and Paz, fifth.
Robert Greenhalgh with brother Peter, sailed into tenth place and may rise,
as protests were still being heard.
