It was moving day at the Finn World Masters
in La Rochelle; the day everything changes, the day
between the beginning and the end. There were lots of changes at the
top with several favourites picking up high scores after the only race
sailed.
Michael Maier (CZE) sailed a flawless race to claim his second race win
and take the overall lead. Andre Budzien (GER) sailed one he would
probably
prefer to forget and dropped to second, while Erik Lidecis (USA) placed
seventh to end the day one point behind Budzien.
The forecast for the day was not good. The
weather chart showed just 4-6 knots of wind, though as the
Masters arrived for their annual Masters Meeting, the sun was trying to
break through the grey cloud and for the first time this week it was
starting
to feel warm. The sailors set out for the race area in just a few knots
of wind and it looked like a different place from the last few days.
However
as it got closer to the start the wind picked up to 8-10 knots with
complete cloud cover and a distinct drop in temperature.
The races were characterised by a gradual shift in the breeze to the right with those who chose the
right side looking very pleased with themselves at the top mark.
In the Yellow fleet, Rainer Wolff (GER) was
first round the top mark from Thomas Schmidt (GER). The
chasing pack included Fergus Allan (GBR), Michael Staal (D) and Allen
Burrell (GBR). However Schmidt had taken the lead by the next leg and
extended
on the fleet for a nice win. With Wolff maintained second place,
Burrell had made the best of the start on the right side and immediately
tacked out
to the right to come back well placed into the top mark, and then moved
through to take third at the bottom of the second downwind and held it
until
the finish.
Michael Maier dominated Blue fleet, leading
from start to finish after also starting on the right and
benefiting from a sizeable right shift that left those further right
footing off to lay the mark. Second placed Neil Robinson (GBR) rounded
the top
mark about fifth and worked through the boats while the French battle
for third was won by Laurent Hay (FRA) from Marc Allain des Beauvais
(FRA).
Second overall Erik Lidesic (USA) lost some places on the final downwind
to cross in seventh. This now means that Maier has taken the lead from
Budzien (who finished 29th in Yellow fleet) and Lidecis.
Schmidt, who was the Finn world champion 25
years ago in 1988, explained his race. “I was on the
front row on the right side and the wind was quite shifty to the right. I
got a good start and sailed a good way up the first beat straight out
and
then tacked to the right a bit before coming back into the top mark in
second. I was first at the next gybe mark and downwind I sailed quite
well with
nice speed and on the second beat I pulled away.”
On the second upwind, the mark had been
changed to the new wind.“But I couldn't see the new mark.
It was a white buoy, quite small and there were no rubber boats around
it and it was very difficult to see. But in the last 400 metres a rubber
boat
was there. I had quite a gap on the next boat so I wasn't worried, but
it was very hard to find.”
Schmidt now moves up from 8th to 5th
overall. “I have been training with some other guys on the
River Elbe in Hamburg. It's quite a similar area to hear with the
current, so that was good training. It's really nice to see so many
boats here this
week and also very nice to win a race in front so many Finns.”
Gus Miller, the oldest sailor at this event
at 78 made a few astute observations about the sailors in
La Rochelle, “A number of things are striking about this Masters Finn
fleet. The number of coaches / minders, the good gear, the fitness level
for the age, the joy at being here and the up to date techniques being
used.”
Several of the sailors are working with top
international sailors to improve their game. He continued,
“Ed Wright and Lauri Vainsalu are here along with other very good
Finnsters acting as coaches. Many masters have done well in life, are
used to
hiring and managing expert people and expect results from themselves.
Out on the water these coaches act as rescue in case the old boy gets
into
trouble. Most of the Masters are very aware of their limitations and
have developed ways of compensating.”
“It is not unusual to see two white haired
gentlemen with a tape measure and spring scale on a
halyard in a deep discussion of the best leech tension for a particular
mast sail combination - should it be 31 or 32 kg. Other popular
discussions
involve what top young Finn sailor a particular mast or sail came from
or what instructions a particular sailmaker was given for a certain
sail. The
old game of evolution and technology in the Finn goes on even though
everyone knows it is impossible to build a super Finn. It is an
interesting
struggle just to stay even. If you want to start a conversation with an
unknown Finn sailor, all you have to do is ask him how his luff curve
is."
“Then there are the stories and remembered
incidents of who was who and what was what. Old sea
dogs remembering what it was like to have a strong reliable body and a
subtle mind. A phrase such as, “Was not it you in 1961 at the top mark
in
Kiel who...”, followed by much laughter is not uncommon. It seems that
this regatta takes 20 years or more off of each competitor.”
At the Masters Meeting in the morning, the
President Fons van Gent (NED) announced he was stepping down
and presented Andy Denison (GBR) as his replacement. Denison (GBR) said,
“I will give this my utmost attention. I was president of the British
Finn Association for seven years so I think I know what we want. I can't
organise the sunshine but I can try and make it as fair as possible. I
will
keep the balance as best as I can. During his terms Fons has done
wonders with this organisation; he has done absolute wonders. He has
created a
structure and a working platform that will take us well into the
future.”
Then van Gent was presented with a half
Finn model and received a standing ovation from the several
hundred sailors present. Fons said, “It is not difficult to do something
well when you like doing it and I liked doing this job very
much.”
In addition Yves Zoccola (FRA) retired
from the Masters committee and Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA)
was elected in his place. Next up was the vote for the venue for 2015
wth bids from Bracciano in Italy and Kavala in Greece. Bracciano took 55
votes
and Kavala took 76. So the 2015 Masters will head to Greece for the
first time in the event's history.
Racing in La Rochelle continues on Thursday, with a return to stronger winds forecast. The championship
concludes on Friday, when the top 10 will sail a medal race, the first time this has happened for the Masters.
Results after 5 races
1 CZE 1 Michael MAIER 8.00
2 GER 711 Andre BUDZIEN 11.00
3 USA 505 Erik LIDECIS 12.00
4 LTU 7 TaurasRYMONIS 15.00
5 GER 193 Thomas SCHMIDT 18.00
6 FRA 75 Laurent HAY 24.00
7 GBR 2 Allen BURRELL 26.00
8 DEN 80 Michael STAAL 29.00
9 NED 41 Karel VAN HELLEMOND 30.00
10 GBR 642 Adrian BRUNTON 39.00
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