FLYING DUTCHMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2012
Santa Cruz Yacht Club, Santa Cruz, California, USA
23 – 30 September 2012
Day 5 – 27 September 2012 – Races 5 & 6
Light winds – Close racing – Challenging conditions
After a shoreside postponement due to lack of wind, boats were released from the harbour.
The competition is hotting up with the first two boats (HUN 70 and GER 88) tied on points after six races and one discard in the nine race Championship.
Race 5
The 43 FDs that came to the start area made a clean start at the first attempt spread evenly along the start line. Some chose to tack off to the starboard side off the course and the rest gradually followed, some tacking up the middle of the course but the .majority going hard right. The SW wind increased gradually to 8 to 10 knots.
At the leeward mark first lap Szabolcs Majthenyi & Andras Domokos (HUN 70) was in the lead, 2nd Enno Krammer & Ard Geelkerken (NED 26), 3rd Peggy Bahr/Torsten Bahr (GER 19), 4th Edward Cox & Peter Bevis (AUS 7), 5th Dirk Loewe & Sven Hermenau (GER 35), 6th Dirk Bogumil & Michael Lisken (GER 199). The wind remained in the 7 to 10 knot range.
At the end of the run, the first four boats were in the same positions, GER 199 had climbed to 5th and Nicola & Francesco Vespasiani (ITA 4) to 6th. On the final beat the fleet favoured the starboard side of the course and was well spread out. The wind dropped a little.
By the finish, ITA 4 had gained another place to finish third, GER 19 slipped to fourth, AUS 7 slipped to fifth with GER 199 holding sixth.
Race 6
There was a General Recall on the first attempt to start Race 6. With the Black Flag the fleet got away to a clean start. The promised Santa Cruz breeze failed to materialise and the wind remained at 8 to 10 knots and reduced in strength during the race to about 6 knots.
Rounding order at end of the run on lap two was 1st Kay-Uwe Ludtke & Kai Schafers (GER 88), 2nd ITA 4, 3rd HUN 70, 4th GER 199, 5th Ralph Jambor & Jens Schreiber (GER 135), 6th Dirk Loewe & Sven Hermenau (GER 35). The wind was holding up to enable the full race to be completed.
By the finish ITA 4 had climbed to second place behind GER 88, with GER 199 fourth. Jorg Herrmann & & Oliver Hyzyk (GER 219) climbed to fifth and GER 19 was sixth.
Once ashore competitors and volunteers enjoyed a tasty snack and a glass of beer in the Regatta marquee.
Provisional Results – Subject to Protest
Race 5 – First 6 to finish
1st Szabolcs Majthenyi & Andras Domokos – HUN 70
2nd Enno Krammer & Ard Geelkerken – NED 26
3rd Nicola & Francesco Vespasiani – ITA 4
4th Peggy Bahr/Torsten Bahr – GER 19
5th Edward Cox & Peter Bevis – AUS 7
6th Dirk Bogumil & Michael Lisken – GER 199
Race 6 – First 6 to finish
1st Kay-Uwe Ludtke/Kai Schafers – GER 88
2nd Nicola & Francesco Vespasiani – ITA 4
3rd Szabolcs Majthenyi & Andras Domokos – HUN 70
4th Dirk Bogumil & Michael Lisken – GER 199
5th Jorg Herrmann & & Oliver Hyzyk – GER 219
6th Peggy Bahr/Torsten Bahr – GER 19
Provisional Overall Results after 6 races with 1 discard
1st HUN 70 – 14 pts
2nd GER 88 – 14 pts
3rd NED 26 – 24 pts
4th ITA 4 – 26 pts
5th GER 19 – 30 pts
6th GER 135 – 33 pts
The seventh race is scheduled for 1200hrs on Friday 28 September. For more information and full provisional results see www.fdworlds2012.org