Sail-World.com : Final day of drama at 2010 Elliott 5.9 Nationals
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Final day of drama at 2010 Elliott 5.9 Nationals |
After an action packed final day of racing at the 2010 Elliott 5.9 Champs, no one was immediately certain who had won! But after the numbers were done Slam Dunk (Cameron Horne, Brett Elliott and Miles Addy - Auckland) had won the contest by one point as the second discard coming in after the final race worked to her advantage.
Four races were scheduled for the final day of racing. After 8 races, Ice Breaker (Peter Burling, Scott Burling and crew - Tauranga) led the fleet by 3 point from Slam Dunk and Voodoo (Simon Manning, Andy Robertson and Phil Quinn - Auckland). However Slam Dunk was still carrying a DNF from day one and would not be able to discard those points until after Race 12.
The day began with Race 9 being sailed in a dying SW breeze during which the fleet was becalmed for quite some time, caught between two competing breezes. Slam Dunk managed to wriggle free to win while Brzo (Nathan Williams, Auckland), Sub 60 (Stu Clarke, Auckland) and Voodoo spent time leading the bunch and and then being passed as small puffs disturbed the glassy conditions.
Finally a light easterly beat back the SW. The boats from the eastern side of the course, Brzo, Icebreaker and Frivolous Fish came through to fill the minor placings at the end of the shortened course. Voodoo held second for a time but was unable to get to the new breeze, finishing fifth.
This appeared to see the end of Voodoo's chance at the title, now too many points back to bridge to the leaders, Ice Breaker and Slam Dunk, and seemingly little chance of getting in all the remaining races.
The following race saw Burling take advantage of Slam Dunks points position and match race them off the course in light conditions. Soon, the pair were half a leg behind the fleet. While Voodoo sailed away to a comfortable win ahead of Brzo and Sub 60, interest then centred on whether Slam Dunk could get past Ice Breaker and then as the breeze softened again, whether the pair could finish within the required 15 minutes of the race winner. They couldn't, both scoring DNF, and so the points position changed again - Brzo and Voodoo were back in the hunt.
 | Voodoo leads the bunch, 2010 E5.9 Nationals race 11 - 2010 Appleton Estate Elliott 5.9 National Championship - Rob Gill Click Here to view large photo |
After a delay while the Easterly freshened again, Race 11 got away. Voodoo won from Slam Dunk and Brzo with Ice Breaker fourth. This put Voodoo in front overall. However with another discard to come after race 12, they were effectively tied for the lead with Slam Dunk. By now, most of the sailors had lost track of the topsy turvy placings.
Race 12 finally got away just prior to the 3pm cut off and Slam Dunk lead Voodoo around the course to win both the race and the 2010 title. Voodoo was second by one point, the pair repeating last years result. Brzo finished third for fourth overall and Ice Breaker finished fourth for third overall.
For information on the Elliott 5.9 class, got to www.e59.org.nz.
 | Elliott 5.9 Class Sponsored by Appleton Estate - 2010 Appleton Estate Elliott 5.9 National Championship - Rob Gill |
by Elliott 5.9 Association Share
1:37 AM Sun 7 Mar 2010 GMT
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