Written by Dan King of Brightlingsea SC
Day-4 saw firm, warm south westerly winds coming off the Sterling mountain- range and out across the bay. Perfect conditions for all and a great day it proved to be for many.
Many, many happy returns to Craig Bond on his 50th birthday – Craig and Tom King have smiled their way through the week and so it proved today as well.
With Millie and Jessica lying 1st by only 1 point overnight to the Irish boat of Ross Kearney, there was high hopes and jangling nerves as the boats went out for the first race of the day (Race 11).
A stonking start saw Millie and Jessica head out into the lead, easily clearing the windward mark in 1st place closely followed by the Filipino boat and Ross Kearney. However on the final beat to the line they were pushed into 2nd place with Ross coming through into the lead. So all points square at the end of 11 races – let the nail biting commence.
No such sign of nerves in the 2nd race of the day though (race 12) with the girls storming to 1st place easily beating the field. With the Tazzy girls in 2nd, the Filipinos in 3rd and Ross Kearney in 4th there should be a 3 point lead at the top for Millie and Jessica.
In the last race of the day (race 13) controversy reigned. With the girls well placed, the on-water judges decided an infringement to the rules had taken place and whistled their boat. On hearing the whistle the girls executed a 360 degree turn – not a 720 degree turn as listed in the sailing instructions. Although they crossed the line in 4th they were subsequently disqualified handing the overall lead to Ross Kearney who had crossed the line in 3rd.
They now lie in 2nd place overall 5.2 points behind Ross, with Ross’s average scores improving race by race due to an incident earlier in the week where he suffered a holed boat that was rightly adjudged to not be his fault.
The girls have graciously accepted the judge’s decision, unlike some of their supporters (namely yours truly). The Filipinos and South African lead boats follow closely behind so there is no room for any further slippages.
Elsewhere in the field, the Lulham-Robinsons took an excellent 6th in the 11th race, an 8th in the 12th race and 19th (discard) in the 13th race to stand in an excellent 9th overall by the close of day 4. Matthew and Ben are only discarding a 20th and a 19th after 13 races, proving how consistent you need to be to score well in the Worlds.
David Conlon and Charlotte Boind pulled a 12th in the 11th race, 18th in the 12th and 8th in the final race of the day (race 13) to move back up to 13th overall. This has been a frustrating Worlds for the reigning 29er UK national champion but perseverance pays off and they are still in the hunt for a top 10 finish.
Miles & Rory Odell took an 18th, suffered a black flag discard in race 12 and, with Miles sporting what can only be described as ‘war paint’ instead of sunblock, closed the day with a very solid 14th place to lie in 16th overall.
Nigel and Rob Thomas continue to show consistency with a 25th and a 23rd in the first two races. Then a very strong sail in the final race earned them a 6th place to leave them lying in 17th place overall (180 points net) just 5 points ahead of Ed Grayson & Mat Foster in 18th overall.
Ed Grayson and Mat Foster suffered a capsize in the 11th race clocking a 41st after being well placed, improved in the 12th race to take a 19th place, but suffered again in race 13 with a 51st. Allowing for discards has not damaged them that much and sets up an interesting 3 way tussle with the British boats for the final day.
Emma & Rachel Grayson came an excellent 15th in the 11th race, a 17th in the 12th putting a smile on the girls faces as they came in for lunch. Unfortunately a capsize in race 13 gave them a 46th place discard to lie a much improved 24th overall at the close of the day.
Craig Bond and Tom King took 29th, 21st and 29th to lie 27th overall. Martin Egan and Ruth Smith took a 44th, 40th and a 45th (discard) to lie 40th overall.
Ollie and James King had another torrid day with two 51st in the first 2 races and 2 capsizes in the 13th race to finish in 55th, leaving them in 54th overall.
Ben and Vicki had a really great 11th race but unfortunately Vicki then injured her hand ahead of the 12th race – leaving substitute Julie Eeles to take the helm with Ben for the last race of the day. They found the drink and retired but a great experience for the mother/son duo.
Just time to wish Craig many happy returns once again – go enjoy your birthday fella – and the girls all the best for the final day tomorrow.
Written by Dan King of Brightlingsea SC
Day-3 saw probably the strangest weather conditions seen by the British Mirror fleet since arrival. The morning started warm and bright and without a breath of wind. As the boats prepared for light winds we could see a shimmer across the harbour and an increasing roughling of the water coming towards us. Then it hit, a hot dry wind from the North and temperatures soared to 41 degrees C. As the day progressed we saw thunder storms, torrential rain and squalls a plenty ... then no wind at all again for the last 'race.
During all of this, the day got off to a start very well with Millie Newman and Jessica Rust (overnight overall leaders) taking 2nd place in the first race of the day (race 8), with Ross Kearney / Max Odell in the officially Irish boat (although Max is English) taking the win.
The Lulham-Robinsons came an excellent 4th and David Conlon / Charlotte Bond hot on their heels in a closely fought 5th place with only a boats length between 3rd-5th places
Then it all went a bit downhill for the British girls; coming 19th in race 9 and 13th in race 10. While Ross and Max continued to pile on the pressure and move themselves into contention by taking an 8th in Race 9 and another 1st in Race 10 to win the day and leaving them only 1 point behind Millie and Jessica on aggregate (counting 2 discards).
Charlotte and David had a disastrous 9th race coming 35th after tangling with the committee boat anchor chain, capsizing and having to take 'turns' to ensure they weren't disqualified. Disheartened but not out of it they ventured out for the 10th and final race of the day to take another 35th moving them down to 15th overall and finally out of contention.
The last race was no race at all with barely enough wind to ruffle the sails following a torrential downpour leaving conditions hot, steamy and humid. Conditions that seemed to suit the Grayson boats with Ed and Mat Foster coming 6th and Emma and Rachel Grayson coming in 9th.
At the end of the day the Lulham-Robinsons have climbed back to 8th in Arctic Donkeez with a very solid 4th, 9th and 10th over the course of the day.
Miles and Rory Odell slipped slightly to 14th ahead of David and Charlotte, having suffered in the light winds of the last race. Ed Grayson and Mat Foster are sitting in 16th and Nigel & Rob Thomas holding 18th after another set of very consistent results (11th, 16th, 11th). Emma & Rachel Grayson sit in 27th overall, Craig Bond / Tom King in 29th, Martin Egan / Ruth Smith in 31st, Ollie and James King in 56th and Vicki Bond / Ben Eeles bringing up the rear in 61st.
Honours are still with Millie and Jessica after 10 races, they are 1 point ahead with 5 to go. Now is the time to get excited. Come on Britain, get behind them.
Written by Dan King of Brightlingsea SC
Sorry for the delay folks – Internet access in this remote area is not always consistent.
Day 2 of the Worlds; despite the forecast, we awoke to very strong winds again. With Millie Newman and Jessica Rust confirmed in 3rd place overall overnight (behind the Australian team of Paul Taylor and the Filipinos), there was much to compete for.
Four races on a day of two halves. Strong easterlies in the morning, tailing off and swinging south easterly in the afternoon saw Millie and Jessica claim a 1st, 4th,and two 2nd places to take a convincing lead overall in the Worlds as we head into the lay day. They also won the day’s sailing taking the African Cup our first piece of silverware.
They sit ahead of Paul Taylor (Aussie National Champion) and the Filipino boat with Lachlan Gilbert (Aussie Tornado sailor) in 4th.
David Conlon and Charlotte Bond have made a charge, progressing over the day taking 7th, 17th, 7th and 6th moving them up to 8th overall – they are gearing up to make their move.
Miles and Rory Odell continue to show consistency to sit in 9th overall. The Lulham-Robinsons dropped slightly to 11th overall, but are sailing extremely well given the conditions.
Ed Grayson and Matthew Foster continue to compete strongly taking a 23rd, 15th, 20th and 26th (discard) in B-Limey to sit 17th overall.
Having missed the Aussie Nationals, Nigel and Rob Thomas appear to have adjusted well to the Albany winds and waters, sitting in 20th overall by the end of Day 2 with results that improved as the day progressed.
Emma and Rachel Grayson are vying with Craig Bond / Tom King (27th and 28th respectively). The girls boat literally hanging together with sponsors stickers (thanks Constance Hotels) while Craig and Tom are starting to make significant progress taking 11th in the final race of the day.
Martin Egan and Ruth Smith, having made front page of the Albany newspaper for some spectacular windward turns, are in 31st overall, also improving significantly as the day progressed.
Ollie and James King finished all 4 races, struggling again in the wind in the morning but making significant progress in the lightening afternoon session (helped by emptying water from a full front tank) taking 56th, 52nd, 46th, 31st to lie 58th overall.
Vicki and Ben are yet to complete a race but have been practicing hard.
All in all an excellent day. Easily the best Mirror racing seen from the Brightlingsea Squad for some time. That has also seen strong performances from the other GBR Team competitors with 6 boats in the top 20 (4 in the top 11).
We take a rest day tomorrow, well earned and required by all and we will be celebrating both Millie and Jessica’s results as well as Craig’s 50th Birthday.
New Years Eve saw the opening ceremony of the 14th Mirror World Championships with Event Director, Anthony Galante, on behalf of the Princess Royal Sailing Club and its members recognised the cultural and spiritual links that Noongar people have to the land and sea, and acknowledged the traditional owners of country know today as Albany or Kinjarling, or place of the rain.
Mineng Elder, Alwyn Coyne, welcomed the competitors in a traditional welcome to country which was followed by traditional dances by the Kinjarling Yoorls, a group of Aboriginal dancers. Backed by troup leader, Ryan Humphries on didgeridoo, the group of boys and men performed a number of dances including the "Wind Dance."
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Kinjarling Yoorls performing the Wind Dance |
ay 3 a full range of breeze from 3 to 25 knots providing something for everyone. The morning started in 5/6 knots from the East and moved about resulting in a change of course. The Irishman, Ross Kearney and Max Odell showed blistering pace in the light breeze storming to a 20 boat length lead and an unassailable lead. They were chased by Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher from Tasmania who were liking the light conditions with New South Welshman Mark Phillips and son Hugh pushing to the front of the fleet after Hugh had recovered from illness that saw miss the first day of racing.
7th - Ross Kearney / Max Odell
8th - David Conlon / Charlotte Bond
9th - Miles Odell / Rory Odell
13th - Matthew & Ben Lulham-Robinson
14th - Ed Grayson / Matthew Foster
19th - Emma & Rachel Grayson
20th - Millie Newman / Jessica Rust
40th - Martin Egan / Ruth Smith
44th - Craig Bond / Tom King
55th - Ollie & James King
63rd - Vicki Bond / Ben Eeles