News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Calm Before The Storm

News

17 September 2006, 01:35 pm

Calm Before The Storm

Laser World Championship 2006

Jeju, Korea

Another early start for racing on the fourth day of the ISAF Grade W Jeju Laser Worlds looked as if it might give a good days racing in a forecast twelve to 18 knot north easterly wind, however it was not to be and the wind died out leaving four races completed after four days in Korea.

With no racing completed yesterday, Tom SLINGSBY (AUS) remains at the head of the fleet on a perfect four points from four races. His Australian team mate Michael BLACKBURN (AUS) lies second overall, with 2005 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion Giles SCOTT (GBR) third.

At 0800 a ten knot northerly wind afloat looked promising. Before the race committee set the course the wind had backed to the north west but pressure remained at ten knots with a large westerly ground.

After the course was set to the new wind hopes were high until just before the start when the wind backed a further 25 degrees and the start was postponed. The course was re-set twice before the first fleet was finally started only to have the race abandoned as the wind dropped to three knots and backed to the west direction halfway down the first down wind leg.

Storm Precautions Mean No Racing On Sunday

With the second fleet unable to start a further two hour wait saw no improvement in conditions so the fleet was sent ashore to help move 130 boats from the beach as a precaution against a storm surge from the predicated close passing of typhoon ShanShan on Sunday afternoon. With all the Lasers off the beach and the race organization and coaches ribs and committee boat craned out there will be no racing on Sunday.

A decision on Monday's racing will be made at 1500, the latest time when all Lasers can be returned to the beach in time for racing to start on Monday when the fleets will be split into gold and silver groups.

Top Ten

Pos	Nation	Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1	AUS	Tom SLINGSBY	1	1	1	1	4
2	AUS	Michael BLACKBURN	1	2	3	2	8
3	GBR	Giles SCOTT	11	1	1	1	14
4	POR	Gustavo LIMA	7	6	3	2	18
5	CRO	Mate ARAPOV	2	7	5	7	21
6	NZL	Andrew MURDOCH	4	13	2	3	22
7	SWE	Rasmus MYRGEN	8	3	8	5	24
8	GRE	Adonis BOUGIOURIS	2	10	7	6	25
9	CAN	Michael LEIGH	3	8	6	10	27
10	SWE	Johan WIGFORSS	13	3	11	3	30