10 point lead for Brazilians

Chris McLaughlin gives the Inmarsat Hedgehog perspective going into the final race of the J/24 Man Roland European Championship

Races 10 and 11 of the J/24 Man Roland European Championships were both postponed from their start times as light, shifting winds continued to dominate. The lifejacket flag flew throughout the day in anticipation of a 30 knot weather warning that did not materialise.

Race 10 began after a postponement in the hope of stable winds. Race Officer, Oliver Mose, has done a great job in keeping the Regatta on track but his skills have been tested again.

Race 10 was dominated by 20-25° shifts again from the left of the course. Southworth got away at the start, leading the pack middle and left. The wind dropped and boats made slow progress before a shift brought the furthest left boats around the outside of the British boat. Southworth again found himself rounding in the late 20s. The pack was led by Jan Hosseman of Germany, in Panta Rhei, from Hannes Pagel in Seglershop, both having their best race of the week.

Third placed Dan Glomb of Brazil fouled an Italian boat as he made a port approach to the weather mark and took a 20% penalty.

Pasquale Di Fraia in Botta Dritta then held fourth place. Continued shifts led to much place changing and Southworth, sailing Inmarsat Hedgehog, worked through to finish sixth just behind the Man Roland team in Rotoman.

Race 11, grey skies and light rain. Again a postponement, then a general recall, followed by a Black flag start. Many shifts with lifts and headers of 20-25° across the course. The lead alternated between Gareth Robinson of Britain, Dan Glomb and Ian Southworth. Following a tacking duel Glomb split left in a header as Southworth approached the weather mark on a port 20 lift. As he tacked his was first headed, then freed and found himself back in 5th place again.

Per Hakan Persson of Sweden took the lead from Mike Lewis of Britain, and from Glomb. Southworth caught and passed Ivo Kok of Holland to regain fourth on the run, only to lose it at the finish as a shift brought the Dutch sailor through by half a boat length on the line.

In both races, with their downwind finishes, boats finished within feet of each other.

Going to the final race, Dan Glomb has a ten point lead on Southworth, who in turn has a 42 point lead on third placed Gareth Robinson of Britain. There will be a fight for second placed European as Robinson has 74 points, Pasquale Di Fraia of Italy 77 and Jan Ulrich in Man Roland Rotoman has 79.

Said Gareth Robinson: "Every night we say just one more early night, and we are going to have to do it again!"

The Class was back to its social best with an impromptu block booking of the local Italian restaurant followed by competitive, good humoured drinking at the well-named 'Gemutlich' Bar.

Says Dan Glomb: "We love the boat. The J/24 gives us the chance to practice with our full match racing crew and to regatta sail. Its the ideal boat to do both".

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