Monotonous perfection

Alec Mckinlay reports from another spectacular day on the water at the 18ft Skiff International Regatta in Garda

It would be almost boring if it wasn’t so damn amazing. Once again Lake Garda delivered up near perfect skiff sailing conditions for day four, Thursday, of the European International Championships at Campione.

Imagine this, for those who haven’t been lucky enough to experience it first hand. You drift down to the boatpark (ie the beach) mid-morning to leisurely rig your boat, fix any breakages, talk over the previous days successes and near misses and drink that essential Italian coffee. The lake is absolutely dead still, looking like molten blue silver under a perfect blue sky. Then at midday, almost on the dot, a line of breeze steadily advances up the lake and within minutes a perfect force three to four sailing breeze, the flags and sails start flapping in the wind and you are ready to go.

After a hard four races the previous day and the Cuban party the previous night crews bodies and some heads were somewhat sore but the race committee was in no mood to take pity on them. A short skippers briefing and its time for the long distance race. A two hour, thirty mile, epic crossing the lake four times and ending with a windward leeward lap under the cliffs for good measure.

The race got underway in a steady but not over powering force three, with a number of teams overeager at the line. Those who went back were faced with the unenviable task of slogging their way back up through the fleet, although this was the preferable option to those who didn’t heed the call. By the time the fleet returned to the Campione side of the lake the breeze had built considerably and took its toll on the now tired crews.

The Danish team of Ler Ole helmed by Jesper Broendum took an early lead and were not caught till near the bottom of the run when Italian Stefano Lagi on Elcotec gybed into more pressure in the middle of the lake to take a brief lead. But it was former JJ Giltinan winner John Winning with crew Andrew Hay and Geoff Bauchop on Yandoo who moved to the front of the fleet on the way back to the Campione side.

Yandoo have been a little slow finding their form at this regatta but finally came good in this race after over two hours sailing. Possibly helped by the latest addition to their boat’s armoury, something best described as a jibstick. This interesting addition seems similar to those used on some bigger short handed yachts and multi hulls and enables Yandoo’s crew to control the jib sheeting angle continuously from the wings. A useful tool for both the two sail reaching and changing windstrength experienced in the race. Almost inevitably Howie Hamlin, Mike Martin and Trent Barnabas on Pegasus Racing came through to second place, their challenge for the trophy looking almost unstoppable. Third place went to the British team of Peter Bartin, Martin Borrett and Ian Turnbull on Barron and Smithers who were having a very good day.

The race committee kept the fleet on the water for a further windward leeward under the cliffs. By this time the Ora had reached its peak and was delivering some exceptional, if demanding sailing. This time Howie Hamlin and his Pegasus crew lead from start to finish with John Winning’s Yandoo team close behind. Barron and Smithers continued their good form to take another third after rolling two boats on the first spinnaker hoist.

Pegasus Racing’s lead in the regatta is now unbeatable, with a hugely impressive score including nothing worse than third place. Yandoo have now moved up to second place ahead of Grant Rollerson, Raphael Glenn and Warren Sare on De Longhi who delivered another consistent day with two fifth places and consolidate their third place overall. Fleming Clausen, Thomas Ebler and Soren Clausen on GP Covers still hold fourth overall and the lead in the European Championship. Barron and Smithers have moved up to fifth with their two third places and are now first British boat in the competition.