Broken legs and rigs

The second day of the 18ft Skiff European Grand Prix delivered extreme conditions in Lake Garda

Day two of the European 18ft Skiff Grand Prix as predicted started with overcast skies, with a fairly light northerly five to ten knot breeze. The teams all duly rigged up with their larger number one rigs but approaching the start at midday, the wind switched to its southerly thermal "Ora" direction, but many thought there was little prospect of it building during the day with the lack of sunshine - this assumption was soon blown away by the end of the first race!

Four races were run in what was to prove a very eventful day. First out of the blocks were PICA (GBR) showing the fleet the way round the course after a perfect port end start enabling them to tack across the fleet and sail off into the distance, with Dave Evans and his team proving their second place in the yesterday's race was no beginner's luck. Ed Browne in Gill / Wild Graphics (GBR) showed they were back on the pace with a second place, leading a bunch of boats crossing the line within seconds led by GP Covers (DEN), Ronstan (GBR) and Pindar (GBR).

By the time the second race started, the breeze had built to a challenging 15-18 knots, giving the crews a handful with their number one rigs. Elcotec (ITA) showed that their winter training in the lake breezes had paid off leading the fleet round the first mark, but they were soon overhauled by Pindar and GP Covers. The breeze then got up to over 20 knots and the second downwind leg was a scene of devastation as only the leading three boats were upright at one point, with the rest of fleet coping with tricky bear-aways at the top mark or pitchpoling antics at the gybes into an unusually steep Garda chop. This resulted in a couple of breakages, not least PICA who snapped a main shroud, and Ronstan who snapped a cap shroud - amazingly through quick thinking both managed to save their rigs intact! A more serious incident however occurred to one of the German skiffs, during a nasty pitchpole downwind, the middleman suffered a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments - a sober reminder to all the teams that these skiffs must always be treated with respect once the breeze kicks in. Pindar managed to hang onto their lead with GP Covers just behind, and Space Models (GER) showing that good boat handling and just hanging in their can get you a great result coming in third - only seven skiffs out of 17 finished that race.

Race three now very overpowered for number one rigs, and Ronstan had managed to quickly change over to their number two rig after their number one cap shroud damage. They had a close battle with Pindar who had decided to hang in with their number one rig, with Ronstan having the edge upwind and Pindar closing up downwind. However Ronstan showed the way home followed by Pindar and Elcotec who also stayed with their number one rig.

In the last race of the day, PICA also managed to get back out with their number two rig, and again showed the fleet the way round the course followed by Ronstan. Pindar were bringing up third, but then an uncharacteristic pitchpole on the downwind leg dropped them back to eighth, with Mason Woodworth and his Investec team getting back up the leader board to finish third.

The final day of racing takes place on Sunday with another four races planned. The event is wide open, especially when discards start taking effect. Sunshine is forecast with hopefully some more breeze!

Results:

1-Pindar (GBR) 9pts
2-Ronstan (GBR) 12pts
3-Gill / Wild Graphics (GBR) 16pts
4-Investec (GBR) 20pts
5-GP Covers (DEN) 21 pts
6-PICA (GBR) 22pts
7-Space Model (GER) 27 pts
8-Liberty Sailing Team (HUN) 27 pts
9-Elcotec (ITA) 31 pts
10-Bodotex (DEN) 33pts