Todd on Qingdao - Race Day 3 or was it 4?

Brian Todd of the Canadian team reports on Race Day 3 in Qingdao

Day 4 Qingdao

Light air and long waits were the order of the day in Qingdao. Racing was postponed for several hours on land while the race committee waited for a bit of wind. To their credit they took a chance and sent every one out at around 3:00 pm with the velocity only in the 2-3 range. The wind did come up though to about 6kts at 110 (with some 120's and some 95's) and it was looking pretty solid for a while but then started to wane as the races neared the finish leg. It was supposed to be a 3 race day but we were lucky to get one in, so tomorrow is scheduled to be a 3 race day again.

In the results column things are getting very tight - in the 2.4 John Ruf USA has moved up to first place with a tenuous 1 point lead, following closely behind are Paul Tingley CAN, Thierry Schmitter NED and Heiko Kroger GER all have 18 points so it will be a fight to the finish in this class.

The Skud 18 class provided the most exciting racing today with many changes in position and a "nail biter" of a finish in 3-4 kts of air and 6 boats converging on the finish line. In the end, Niki Birrell/Alex Rickham GBR won the race, Nick Scandone/Maureen McKinnon Tucker USA came from 5th at the previous mark to finish second. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit continued their third place parade of results but they gained a point on the Aussies today.

The Sonar Class also had big changes over the course Ken Kelly, Marc Shaw and Don Terlson CAN went from 13th to 4th on the last leg to the finish, of course that is the one that counts! Winning the Sonar class is FRA with AUS in second and GER in third.

Racing continues tomorrow but the forecast is for light wind again, however if this cloud line can pass by this evening we might just get a better shot at a sea breeze. It did clear up a great deal later this afternoon so I guess we will have to just wait and see.

We'll keep you posted!

Brian Todd

Canadian Sailing Team