Day 2, was the kind of day that (heavier), older guys like me, see in our nightmares. Yet for others (more fit, younger, lighter), light wind, is their advantage.
Race 3, the Race Officer recorded between 8-10 knots on the start boat, however many of us felt it was much lighter. Needless to say only about 10 competitors got away planning from the start before the wind dropped further. Must have been on the limit.
The rest of us pumped for close to an hour, to get around the course, only to be timed out after all that pain. The leaders however, gave the rest of the fleet a lesson in light wind technique and fitness.
Winning race 3 and celebrating his “golden bullet” (his first ever international race win) was SWE 8 Ulf Sjostedt, (see the event video to see his reaction) into 2nd was LTU 789 Arvydas Moliousis the super “veteran” who many know very well, he is a true character of the sport. And into 3rd LAT 23 Janis Priess, who said he and POR 5 sailed off the start line on starboard tack, after a couple of hundred meters they realized they had sailed into a massive hole, so tacked onto port, but found themselves almost sailing back to the start line!! In total 21 finished the race in time out of 45.
In race 4 the wind seemed to pick up a little, (about 0.05 of a knot) Again only about 10 competitors got away clean. Back to his winning ways with a first was LAT 23, 2nd POL 555 Filip Korczycki and 3rd POR 5 Miguel Martinho. GBR 69 had the biggest smile after finishing 15th right on the time limit!!! Lucky Bu&&er!!! Everyone else who pumped for 50 minutes were rewarded with the wind dropping out to zero,, and a 30 minute drift back to the beach.
So day 2 belonged to SWE 8 for his golden bullet.
Hoping for a little thermal action tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Photos by A.KID (Ais Theocharopoulos)
