The last Day Of Racing
Day 4 started with a steady drizzle and gloomy skies. Weather reports weren’t encouraging either and the sailors who hoped to get in 3 more races to work their way up hoped for improvement, while those on top already prayed for a downpour.

Into the grey haze that hung over the sea, the Optimist boats trooped out in time. The swells were low and the winds light at about 6 to 8 knots from the North West. First race had to be  abandoned as wind had dropped to about 3 knots and a huge cloud system started to build up, with wild wind shifts, the Race Committee decided to get the sailors back on shore immediately. Unfortunatley for some of the sailors who had hoped to improve  their  final standings, no more races could be conducted and the Optimist racing came to a close with 9 races complted with 2 discards. While Rufus, Ganapathy and Upamanyu exulted having secured their positions, Sankalp, who had held the 3rd position for the first 2 days and hoped to claw back up today was inconsolable.

The situation inside the harbour was more under control and all 3 races were completed as planned, though the course had to be changed after Race 11 when the wind shifted 180 degrees and went SE from NW. After finishing the first race on top predictably, the Dane Duo retired as they had already bagged the top spot with the 2 discards. Second race had high drama as the mixed team of Anna and Kumaresan led through the race only to capsize metres short of the finish line and could only helplessly watch as the others sailed through. Indian team Varun and Keshub won that race while Xerxes and Krish won the last race of the Regatta and also clinched the Silver while Aman / Sachin team slipped to the third position.

The wind gods who had been good to the event throughout even accommodating the wishes of the sailors by sending down rain on the lay day, finally called a halt to the races by sending out lashing rain that brought the curtains down on the event.
 
You are here  : Home