Final days are always difficult for organisers and competitors alike but
the final day of the Finn World Masters in La Rochelle was made more
difficult by the strong winds and early rain showers that swept through
the area. Michael Maier (CZE)) took the world Masters title after
winning the
the medal race in style, while Andre Budzien (GER) took silver and Erik
Lidecis (USA) the bronze. The day began with the first final colour
grouping races for all but the top 10. A much reduced fleet
headed out into a solid 15-16 knot very cold breeze and were met by an
approaching rainstorm.
This ultimately led to a short postponement as
the wind
killed the wind and the sailors were left slopping around and shivering.
However it soon came back but at a reduced strength and one very shifty
race
was held for Yellow and Blue fleets.
Yellow fleet's start featured a large left
hand shift just minutes before the gun with those at the pin
almost laying the top mark on port tack. The wind was back up to 10-12
knots so it was fantastic sailing conditions with nice long waves
downwind. The
leading group of Ray Hall (NZL), Jan Eckert (SUI), Dirk Meid (GER), Piet
Eckert (SUI) and Jurgen Eiermann (GER) had a full on battle around the
course, eventually finishing in that order.
In the Blue fleet Karl Purdie (NZL) made it
a Kiwi double by winning his second race of the series,
leading from start to finish, from Uli Breuer (GER) and Franceso
Faggiani (ITA). Both Purdie and Breuer paid a heavy price for failing to
immediately
retire from races on a second yellow flag penalty earlier in the week
and both would otherwise have made the medal race. Purdie's scoreline of
4, 2,
DNE, 1, 31, 1 is perhaps a warning that he will be a force for the
future (though perhaps after reading the rules again).
While the group races were rescheduled for
the earlier start time of 10.30 to avoid the strongest of
the forecast wind, the medal race was strangely rescheduled for later in
the day so that it could be held in the river off the club when the
tide had
risen sufficiently to lay a course. This was so it could be watched by
spectators. It was a gamble as the wind was forecast to rise all day and
the
Masters has a wind speed limit of 20 knots.
But the medal race got away at 15.30 after
one general recall in well in excess of 20 knots. Sailed in
the narrow channel just off the marina it was a gusty, shifty race that
generally favoured the right side under the town. Regatta leader Michael
Maier
escaped from a poor start on the first attempt but made the best of the
second start to lead round the entire race. Karel van Hellemond (NED)
was
flagged out of the start for infringing another boat's water and started
last. However he was back in contention at the top mark and moved into a
comfortable second place on the second upwind. Third place in the race
finally went to Andre Budzien (GER) after a close battle with the
chasing
pack.
This all meant no overall change in the
leading three boats with Maier taking a well deserved and
record equalling fifth World Masters title after undoubtedly the
toughest of all his five Masters titles. Budzien, the three times
champion, took the
silver while newcomer Erik Lidecis (USA) took the bronze after not
really figuring in the medal race.
This year has featured the largest ever
entry at a Finn World Masters, with more and more sailors both
qualifying by getting older and being attracted to the fleet by the
level of competition. Next year the Finn World Masters heads to Sopot
in
Poland.
Final results top 10
1 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 10 (1)
2 GER 711 Andre BUDZIEN 17 (3)
3 USA 505 Erik LIDECIS 20 (4)
4 LTU 7 Tauras RYMONIS 25 (5)
5 NED 41 Karel VAN HELLEMOND 34 (2)
6 GER 193 Thomas SCHMIDT 34 (8)
7 GBR 2 Allen BURRELL 38 (6)
8 FRA 75 Laurent HAY 38 (7)
9 DEN 80 Michael STAAL 47 (9)
10 GBR 42 Adrian BRUNTON 59 (10)
Grand Masters:Andre Budzien (GER), Thomas Schmidt (GER), Michael Staal (DEN)
Grand Grand Masters: Henk de Jager (NED), Seppo Ajanko (FIN), Dirk Seret (AUS)
Legends: Friedrich Muller (GER), Minski Fabris (CRO), Howard Sellars (GBR)
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