The 16th
edition of the J/80 World Championship got off to a flying start with
two spectacular championship races for the 48 boat fleet. A
southwesterly wind of 12 knots built during the afternoon, piping up to
over 20 knots in the gusts. With wind over tide shortly after the start,
the combat zone boiled up with the J/80s powering upwind, then surfing
downwind, in a full on foam up. Rayco Tavares (ESP) leads the
championship, Kevin Sproul (GBR) is second and Luke Patience (GBR)
third.
PRO
Stuart Childerley held a practice race In the morning, and after a big
wind shift, moved the course to the east. “It can be a devil of a race
area but we got two good races in today, helped by the competitors who
settled into the tidal conditions very well at the start, but I expect
that from this fleet, which is full of talented sailors.” commented
Stuart Childerley.
The
battle of the day was won by reigning J/80 World Champion, Rayco
Tavares, who is top of the leaderboard after the first day, but the
Spaniard did not have it all his own way. Reigning UK National Champion,
Kevin Sproul won Race One but Rayco scored a 2-1 to Kevin's 1-4. The
battle is due to continue all week.
Coming
from Lanzarote, we are used to sailing in strong winds but the tide and
short chop is something different for us.” commented Rayco. “There are
strong local teams, which have better knowledge of the Solent, and there
are other high quality teams from overseas as well.”
Olympic
470 Silver Medallist, Luke Patience is in third. “It is great to score
two keepers on the first day, as we have only just put this team
together.” commented Luke. “The plan is to try and improve our
performance as the regatta develops, so we are happy to have got off to a
good start in a very good fleet.” Spain's Javier Chacártegui scored a
8-2 to finish the day in fifth.. 2012 J/80 World Champion,
Jose Maria Van Der Ploeg, scored a third in Race One but was over eager
in Race Two, and having returned to re-start correctly, finished the day
with a poor result.
Tech Talk - The Perfect Start
North Sails Ruairidh Scott (2005 J/80 World Champion).
The
trick is you have to practice how to sail really slowly and not get
stalled or go head to wind. You need to find the slowest that you can
sail, and remain in control, which on a J/80 is 3 knots or less. If you
can be just approaching the line at that speed, sailing very high,
possibly inside the jib and inside the main a little bit. Then you bear
away a little bit, fill the sails up and go. If you get your time on
distance right, it is a very low stress and an easy way to start the
boat well. You want to start at target speed with height, and then it is
difficult for anyone to attack you. Control and consistency means that
you are the master of your own destiny
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