Day 3 2011 Landcorp Mirror Worlds

When the competitors arrived today for the start of day three, there was little breeze and warm sunshine which bathed the competitors.  By the time the boats took to the water, the breeze had picked up from the north bringing a warm breeze to the middle of Princess Royal Harbour. 

The Philippinos at their favoured position on the boat

Race 8 took a while to get off, with 2 postponements and a Black Flag frustrating the fleet.  There was an even spread along the line and Paul and Austin Taylor rolled the dice and started on port tack with the young British pair, Matthew and Ben Lulham-Robinson following quickly behind.  Both boats were at the front in the top mark roundings. 

The Black Flag - seeing too much action

The British girls were back in the fleet at the top rounding but as they have demonstrated all regatta, their boat handling is second to none and their kite hoist and ability to get planing sooner than other boats had them reeling in the leaders. 

Kearney and Odell take the gun

The warm breeze was a delight to sail in and the competitors reveled in the superb conditions.  Kearney and Odell managed to work their way to the front for a solid win, whilst the British girls showed grit and determination to work up to second with the Tasmania girls Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher in third.  The Taylors faded after leading early and finished seventh. 


Tight finishes under threatening skies
















Race 9 was a clear start with the pin end starters seeming to do the better out of the first beat.  The temperature ashore was 41C and it was hot at the front of the fleet with Ireland's Ross Kearney and Max Odell first to the top mark followed by the young British brothers Matthew and Ben Lulham Robinson. 

The storm is brewing

By the time they got to the gate Kearney was leading with Lulham-Robinson second and Newman and Rust third.  But the story of the day was the 14 year old South African pocket rocket, Ricky Robinson with older brother Ryan as crew who took out the race.  There boat speed was great as they managed to fly downwind to meet the finishers at the gate following the shortened course.  Second was Australian Mark Phillips with son Hugh and third was mother/son pair Anita Scott-Murphy and Ben Cruse. 

Down wind finish to beat the weather

By the time the fleet got ashore, the weather changed with a sou-westerly blowing through with lightning and strong gusts by to 30 knots.  The timing of the return to shore was impeccable with the boats out of harms way.

After the squalls, the weather moderated and the sailors were sent afloat for Race 10 in rainy conditions with a light breeze.  With many boats over under the Blue Peter, the fleet were recalled to start under the Black Flag. The pin seemed to be the end to be and the Philippinos, weighing 139 kgs, beat many of their lighter competitors to the top mark and were away first on the reach followed by South Africa's Robinsons with triple Fireball World Champion, John Dransfield and son Jesse in third.  

Balladares and Chavez maintained their lead down the run and were pursued by Ireland's Ross Kearney and Max Odell with the South Africans in third.  The Irish boat managed to sail a clever race in the light breeze and by the bottom they were just trailing the Philippinos and managed to storm home in the fickle conditions to the finish line that was brought down to the bottom mark as a result of the breeze dropping right out.  Second were the Philippinos, Balladares and Chavel with John and Jesse Dransfield third.

Overall, there have been some major changes on the leader board which now stands after 10 races and one drop as follows:

1. Millie Newman and Jessica Rust (GBR) 37
2. Ross Kearney and Max Odell (IRL) 38
3. Ridgely Balladares and Rommel Chavez (PHI) 46
4. Ryan and Ricky Robinson (RSA) 47
5. Paul and Austin Taylor (AUS) 49



Great Sailing all day