After three races sailed at the RS21 world Championships in Croatia Gianluca Grisoli, Andrea Casale, Fabio Gridelli and Giorgio Tortarolo are leading the 41-boat fleet with a 3,1,2 score.
Strong bora winds dominate the racecourse for day three of the RS21 World Championship.
According to provisional results below, having scored a 13 and then a 34 in the two races sailed, Ireland's Kenny Rumball sailing with Jonathan Sargent, Andrew Smith, and Sean Donnelly, have scored a 'UFD 42' to be 34th overall.
After trying to make the most of the calm before the storm on day two, the local bora winds from the North were set to pound with an average speed of 30 knots and gusts of up to 40. The race committee unanimously agreed to hold the sailors ashore until safe, albeit exciting, racing could be achieved.
The 41-boat RS21 World Championship fleet start in strong bora winds in Croatia Photo: Phil Jackson
The race management team faced the possibility of having two days with no racing at all, but they worked hard and found a window of opportunity in the afternoon. The fleet quickly made their way to the racing area, showing their keenness to battle with the tough, unrelenting conditions. With winds gusting above 25 knots, getting around the course was enough of a challenge for some, but everybody took the opportunity to go fast with the top teams as always, pushing the RS21 to its limits.
On each of the downwind legs, there were multiple broaches and wipe-outs. Even though the race management team only held one two-lap race, that was enough to satisfy the competitors who headed back to shore safely, boasting about the speeds that each had reached, some in excess of 18 knots.
Marko Misura, PRO, commented, “It was fun. On the start line, the deck surface of the committee boat was reading a maximum wind speed of 27 knots, with an average of 23 knots. Fun, wet and windy, but really good to get a race in after not being able to yesterday.”
This evening, the sailors will enjoy a Regatta Dinner at the Marina Kornati Restaurant to celebrate the first RS21 World Championship, accompanied by a live DJ and saxophonist. Hopefully the sailors will enjoy and rest up before a long day tomorrow when the venue is forecast to return to form, with clear skies and sunshine with light to medium winds from the North.
