The relatively small IRC 3/4/5 boats
encountered pretty tough weather conditions, 20 to 30 knots and short,
steep waves that forced most of the fleet to abandon racing, among them
one of the early favourites, Mills41 Ambush that reported issues with
two jibs and the mainsail. Only six boats were able to cross the finish
line. Four boats in class IRC4 were able to reach the line unscathed
with the overall winner Mengzi in first, HNA sailing Team in second,
Wanzhu in third and Lianchuang in fourth. In class IRC3 the only
finisher was Hanse 575 Xim that finally reached Wanning after one day
and three hours of sailing.
The smallest boat taking part,
Banshanbandao, a Sun Fast 3200 skippered by French Laurence Nicolas,
finished in shortly over 22 hours, getting in second overall and scoring
a solitary win in class IRC5. Action
resumed in Wanning on Thursday with the last in-port on the programme.
On the short windward/leeward course, with some 15 knots and choppy sea,
class IRC3 winner was Ambush, HNA Sailing Team scored a first in IRC4
and Banshanbandao in IRC5. The eight boats will leave tomorrow for their
second and final 120nm offshore race back to Sanya, where the two
fleets will meet up again.
In the
island's capital Haikou big boats got ready for the start of the second
280nm leg that will take them back to Sanya, sailing along Hainan's east
coast. During the usual skippers' briefing the race committee informed
the teams that the weather forecast indicating pretty strong conditions,
with a gusty north-easterly of around 20/25 knots for the first section
of the course. The organizers' focus being on safety, all boats are
equipped with satellite phones for constant communication and with
tracking devices, two waypoints were moved to keep the fleet out of the
worst of the wind and swell and from the coastal areas where the South
China Sea currents are stronger.
On
Thursday, under grey skies and drizzling rain in some 10/15 knots of NE
breeze the 12 boats battled on windward/leeward in-port race where
RHNDubois50 Sanya and SunFast 3200 Old boy Dream Team scored a win in
class 1 and 2 respectively. Shortly later the fleet set sail for Sanya
where the leaders are expected to finish at around midnight Friday,
local time.
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