After two days of not sailing due to high wind limits, the thoroughbred competitors of the GBR Nationals, or Britnats, as the Aussies call it, where starting to get rather twitchy. But on day 3, Weymouth finally delivered, albeit with a few jellyfish the size of dustbins floating around, having blown in during the previous few days south westerly storms.
Racing out in the bay so that David Campbell-James, the event PRO, could get a long course set in the higher winds. Both Classic and Open fleets sailed on the same course, with the Open fleet off first and sailing 3 laps to the Classic fleets 2. This proved to be the perfect solution for the fleets, as there were some 51 or so boats entered, but several no shows. The Open leaders tended to do their races in 35 mins, the Classics in about 45.
All the races got away first time with minimal fuss and only a couple got the dreaded UFD designation for being across the line within the last minute before the go.
The wind in the first race was a pleasant 14-15 knots pretty much westerly, although it started to swing left and right as the race progressed leaving the sailors trying to guess the correct side of the course. Mischa Heemskerk NED 7, Bruce Mahoney USA 311 and Stevie Brewin AUS 4 was the finish in the Open. Scott Anderson AUS 31, Micky Todd ESP 7 and Alberto Farnessi SWE 59 in the Classics. No score was recorded for the jellyfish, but it was thought that they took out several competitors’ rudders.
