One race today in radical conditions.
Only one race completed today at the Australian Formula Championships. Winds picked up in the morning to 25knots but still very shifty and gusty, the first race was delayed until winds settled down.
Finally competitors got away clean with McGain and Steve Charles leading the way again on Port tack and heading out into the fresh breeze. Brett Morris also got away with a great start and was putting it down in the strong winds to stay in touch with the leaders around the weather mark. McGain got lifted and catapulted on the upwind leg and went through his sail, but was still able to keep sailing slightly disabled. McGain narrowly lead around the bottom mark, with Steve Charles right on his tail and Brett Morris in 3rd.
At the top mark McGain some how stayed in front with a huge hole in the middle panel of this 9.8 which was growing by the minute, Steve Charles dropped back slightly as the wind continued to pick up. McGain crossed for his fourth straight bullet, Brett Morris picked the right lines downwind and managed to pass Steve Charles to finish in 2nd with Charles in 3rd.
Winds continued to pick up and drop during the afternoon, going from 30 to 2 knots in a matter of minutes, so no more races were able to be started.
Now with 4 races completed, one drop.
1st Phil McGain- 3 points.
2nd Steve Charles- 7 points (see photo)
3rd Sam Parker- 11 points.
4th Dave Morehead- 11 points.
5th Mike Nelson- 13 points.
