Four hours on the water but...

no start for race two of the International 14 Worlds, reports Paul Brotherton from New Zealand

After yesterday's first race when a marginal decision by the race team saw only half the fleet finish, a different problem entirely faced the race management team today.

A shifty and unpredictable westerly breeze was fighting the onset of a northeast seabreeze. At the planned start time of 15:00 local time the fight was in full swing. It was little surprise to see the first attempt at a start postponed as the breeze broke up into pockets of no wind.

One of the many frustration for the sailors is that in the early part of the afternoon the westerly breeze was consistent enough to have raced.

No further attempt to start was made until after 17:00, the sun was hot but not hot enough to overturn the gradient. The gradient breeze was strong but not strong enough to push against the on set of the sea breeze. 84 International 14s bounced up and down waiting.

As the heat reduced the westerly breeze finally made its mark. Still shifting, as offshore breezes do, there was plenty enough for a cracking shifty race. Having sat through two hours of frustration the fleet where understandably eager. With 30 secounds to run and a general recall seemingly immenent, the race team hoisted a postponement. No further attempt at a start was made for 30 minutes in which time the breeze which was shifty but always in the same quadrant was as consistent as offshore breezes get.

Finally after nearly four hours on the water a third attempt was made, again an eager fleet where early on the line, with 15 seconds to go the postponement flag was hoisted. This was followed by the race team abandoning racing for the day.

It is easy to wonder just what the race team have in mind when a valid start is postponed because of sailor indiscipline. There is no penalty or threat at all imposed on the fleet. However, by letting the start run, flying a general recall and then imposing a Z flag (20 % penalty for any boat over on a recalled start) or black flag start, provides the fleet with a clear message, start properly or get penalised. Under these circumstances a start would have been significantly more likely.

At the start of this regatta the race management, as part of its briefing, made a statement to the effect that they wanted the best team to win. Racing today in tactically demanding conditions should have posed a great challenge and have added to the one set down yesterday in 25 + knots. It can only be hoped that future chances to race in shifty conditions are not lost.

A 10 oclock start tomorrow to catch up on the lost race was a challenge many hoped not to face.