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Looking Back On Day One

On Thursday, the first race of the Flying Dutchman Worlds quickly showed that, although small for a Worlds, this was a very high quality fleet with the top players competing. The race took place in lighter conditions with an occasional full trapeze needed with a powered up rig.

US Champions Lin ROBSON and Eric BOOTHE (USA) of the hosts St. Petersburg Yacht Club went to the right side of the first leg, caught a right shift and led with the International Flying Dutchman Class Organization President Alberto BARENGHI and Dave ELLIS (ITA) second. Local knowledge failed on the second windward leg, as the left got a local puff that put other boats near ROBSON and BOOTHE by the finish, shortened at the final leeward mark due to dying wind. ROBSON and BOOTHE crossed first to take the opening bullet followed by MAJTHÉNYI and DOMOKOS.

After a few hour's wait, a classic Tampa Bay sea breeze filled in at 230 degrees at about twelve knots with some holes and puffs for race two. 2004 World Champions MAJTHÉNYI and DOMOKOS established a lead and were never threatened.

Yesterday's Action

Friday's races were held in a south breeze filling an approaching front. At times there were gusts to 15 or a little more and there were periods of eight knots. Nobody could touch the Hungarian duo as they won both races.

Within the fleet there were many changes of position both upwind, reaching and running. Subtle changes in the mast bend, rake, centreboard position up and down as well as fore and aft, the jib fairlead car up and down, all made a boat faster until the wind changed speed and it all had to be changed again.

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