Rakocy ‘OK’ with lead after mixed day in Medemblik

Robert Deaves, IFA

Posted: 28  Jul. 2010

The fleet spreads out Anja Pawlaczyk pic

Day two of the OK Dinghy European Championships in Medemblik, Netherlands produced a late finish after a complete change in conditions with very unstable winds mixing up the results, with most of the leading contenders picking up a high score.

Race three got underway at 13.30 in about five knots after an earlier attempt was postponed and the fleet sent ashore to wait for the wind to build.

At the start, much of the fleet immediately had to tack onto port as no one could cross on starboard, and this was a hint of things to come.

Most of the favourites headed to the left hand side towards a big black cloud but after one third of the beat, a 60 degree shift to the right gave the other half of the fleet a massive lead over the left side. The regatta leaders Terry Curtis, Tim Goodbody and Antoni Pawlawski were all on the left and paid a heavy price for this.

Race winner Thomas Glas said, "I started in the middle of the line and then there was a big right shift. Andreas Pich (GER) led round the top mark followed by Christian Hedlund (DEN), Jurgen Illers (GER) and myself.

“On the last beat Christian and Andreas went to the right and were fighting together so I went left of the fleet and got a lift which took me into the lead and I won by about 50 metres," Glas said.

Glas rounded off an excellent day with a ninth to end the day in ninth overall He added, "Today was really tricky sailing, especially with the big shifts in the first race," he said.

The wind increased slightly for race four and still very shifty. The left side did pay this time with Neil Goodhead (GBR) and Martin Bower (GBR) leading round the top mark from the left corner and Alistair Deaves (NZL) in third from the right.

Goodhead maintained his lead to the leeward mark and then Tim Goodbody (IRL) made his move, taking the lead at the top of the second beat from Bartosz Rakocy (POL) and Deaves with the wind now at 12-15 knots. Goodbody extended down the run to lead to the finish.

Rakocy sailed well to record another second place to the take the overall lead while Jorgen Lindhardtsen recovered from an average first beat in race four to finish third and move up to third overall. Pawel Pawlaczyk (POL) continued his consistency to end the day in second overall.

Overnight leader Terry Curtis (GBR) posted a 33 and 27 in the shifty conditions to drop to 12th overall, while Goodbody also picked up a 23 in race three. All apart from four out of the top 10 have posted high scores so far, so after Wednesday's two races, the discard should considerably change the order at the top.

Racing continues to Friday and there are forecasts of much stronger wind over the next few days.

Top five after 4 races:
1 POL 19 Bartosz Rakocy 18
2 POL 14 Pawel Pawlaczyk 22
3 DEN 1364 Jørgen Lindhardtsen 29
4 IRL 10 Tim Goodbody 31
5 NZL 522 Greg Wilcox 34
6 GER 693 Martin von Zimmermann 41
7 POL 31 Antoni Pawlowski 46
8 GER 747 Andreas Pich 46
9 GER 731 Thomas Glas 53
10 GER 717 Oliver Gronholz 60

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