Carnage at Carnac on Day Three
The Carnac Yacht Club was filled with a sense of purpose this morning. Boats were quickly rigged, and rigorously checked for any signs of wear which could lead to a breakage. Whilst all this was going on, whitecaps were beginning to develop across the bay, and the conditions were shaping up for what would later be referred to by Andrew Perry as a “big boys day”. The only people not caught up in this air of nervous excitement, were the American possy, who were up to their usual antics and cracking jokes; these guys are good under pressure.
The launch was uneventful, and the fleet were able to reach out to the course, where 18 knots of wind was blowing from a south westerly direction. The boats flew around pre-start, testing out the conditions, which were tricky to say the least. The windward shore was far enough away to allow for a substantial fetch, meaning that there was big chop rolling around the bottom of the course, where the 14s were trying to start. However the 14’s showed their sailing pedigree as the fleet came together at the gun, and struck out left across the course. Big gusts, combined with the sea state made for a gruelling physical upwind leg, and the crews took it in turns to go swimming.
As the boats began to close in on the windward mark, it became immediately obvious that the big breeze had bought with it changes in the leading packs. First round the windward mark were Jones and Fitzgerald, closely followed by Gilbert and McGrane, Massey and Hillary, notably Truswell and Pascoe were missing from their usual spot. Throughout the first beat the breeze had been slowly picking up, and boats were exposed to gusts of 20 knots and above from the top mark. As the overpowered skiffs careered downwind through the steep troughs and over the crests, crews and helms did everything they could to remain attached to their boats, and to keep the mast pointing the right way up.
Once at the bottom mark, there was still no let up from the risk of capsize, as the boats fought their way back upwind. Changing direction was risky business, and few escaped the frisky waters as dinghies came off the plane and ventured to tack through the wind. At this point, not only were the boats having to dodge the numerous buoys around the course which Lindsay Irwin insisted had “some sort of magnetism to boats”, but they were also having to avoid upside-down 14s, and sailors-come open water swimmers.
Half way through the race, Massey and Hillary pinched the lead from Jones and Fitzgerald who dramatically stacked it through a tack on the second beat. This put Jones and Fitzgerald in third, and back in amongst the pack of Aussies and Brits chasing the leaders. However, the young duo weren’t hanging round, and were back off within a shot. Whilst the drama was unfolding out on the race course, a steady stream of boats were being stretchered off the course due to breakages, capsizes and injuries. The fact that over 25 boats didn’t finish the race was testament to the extreme conditions out on the course.
Jones and Fitzgerald showed their true colours in the second half of the race, and won back their lead to take a hard earned, well deserved first as they crossed the line. They were followed shortly after by Massey and Hillary, Krstic and Lanati who took second and third.
Back on shore the boat park was buzzing with the thrills and spills of the days racing. Once changed and fed, crews hung out outside the yacht club with their well-earned beers, exchanging adventures and stories which will be revisited and recounted again and again over the decades to come. Other sailors, spent from a long days racing chose instead to retire early for a quiet afternoon, to recuperate and recharge batteries for what is looking to be a technical, light wind day tomorrow.
The Australians
In another tough day on the water, but this time from a physical point of view with the wind up, there have been some big wins and big losses over the last couple of days. Mark Krstic & Jame Lanati have moved into 5th overall on the back of another podium placing yesterday. They lead fellow Australians Brad Devine & Ian “Footy” Furlong by a point. Hayter/Neighbour are still hanging on in the top 10 being pursued by Irwin/Perry. Unfortunately with 25 DNFs today there were some casualties with Alexander/Wilsdon and Mahar/Mahar receiving maximum point and unfortunately sending them down the leaderboard. With plenty left i this regatta lets hope for some consistency in the conditions so the Aussies can find their groove.
Top 10 after 2 races
1 GBR 1553 Trusswell/Pascoe
2 GBR 1541 Gilbert/Mcgrane
3 GBR 1519 Massey/Hillary
4 GBR 1530 Jones/Fitzgerald
5 AUS 656 Krstic/Lanati
6 AUS 661 Devine/Furlong
7 GBR 1557 Nurton/Ash
8 AUS 666 Hayter/Neighbour
9 GER 78 Voss/Ehrig
10 AUS 659 Sloss/Elliot
Other Australians
11th AUS 663 Irwin/Perry
21st AUS 650 Edmunds/Layfield
26th Aus 657 Blasse/Gilligan
28th AUS 628 Strong/Cameron
29th AUS 638 Strong/Vaughan
34th AUS 674 Vickery/Vickery
38th AUS 675 Patterson/McGeoch
41st AUS 631 Vance/Von Felton
47th AUS 669 Vickery/Vickery
49th AUS 626 Mahar/Mahar
51st AUS Alexander/Wilsdon
55th AUS 667 Tomamichel/Wangel
