Sunnock/Self into the lead

Diana Boogards reports from day two of the Aruba Heineken catamaran regatta

On Monday 10 November the British team Sunnucks/Self moved into the overall lead of the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta. The Dutch Formula 18 teams Larsen/Pols and Graat/Koene claimed the second and third position overall. Due to light winds, the race committee had to shorten the two races of today.

Today’s first race started with light wind conditions. After a general recall the fleet started correctly at the second signal. The first upwind lap was nerve-racking with lots of wind shifts. While sailing downwind the wind direction shifted about 180 degrees. As a result, the spinnakers were taken down and the race committee decided to let the teams finish after rounding the first gate.

The British couple Julia and Ashly Machin, sailing a Hurricane 5.9, had a good race, which resulted in a second place on rating. Yesterday’s leaders, Richard Allen and Stuart Gummer, sailed a dramatic race. After a good start, they ended up in a windless part of the course. A 37th position was the result.

In the afternoon, two swimming contests were organised for the sailors and their partners. Meanwhile, the wind increased to force three, which was enough for a second race. Due to a late start, the race committee used a short course and the competitors only had to sail two laps.

Richard Allen and Stuart Gummer recovered perfectly with a victory. The gap between them and Gunnar Larsen and Xander Pols from the Netherlands, was thirteen seconds. William Sunnucks and Mark Self got a third place. They moved into the lead after three races, followed by the Dutch teams Larsen/Pols and Graat/Koene. Daan Koene: “The short race was nice. It was a kind of game. We choose the right side of the course, because of clear wind. We passed the upwind mark among the first ten boats, but in the gate we made a mistake. We had to turn a 360, therefore the distance to Gunnar increased. He’s definitely our target this week.”

Top five after three races:
1. Tornado / GBR – Sunnucks and Self
2. Formule 18 / NED – Larsen and Pols
3. Formule 18 / NED – Graat and Koene
4. Tornado / GBR – Northrop and Speller
5. Tornado / GBR – Barnes and Smith

More photos on page 2