The forecasts predicted that this championship was going to be a windy one and the first day did bring that out.
Here is a brief report, copied from the ISCA site:
Defending Champ Zimmerman Takes Wild Worlds Race 1
Posted October 07, 2013
Updated at 1 p.m. Oct 7, 2013: UNOFFICIAL
Squalls, a tornado watch, and gusts over 40 MPH but Defending Champ Alex Zimmerman is at the top after one race.
Dark skies and the threat of hideous weather later in the day greeted sailors on the first morning of the 49th Sunfish World Championship at Lewes Deleware on Monday. The first race started with a stiff southerly that jumped to 30 MPH right at the start immediately separating the leaders from the pack.
Things moderated back down into the 20-25 MPH range after 15 min or so, but as the fleet worked its way upwind on the second beat a squall came through with driving rain that felt like little pins on the face. Wind was sustained at over 35 MPH for about 10 min and gusts were approaching 45 MPH. But the sailors kept on. Breakdowns were everywhere and visabiity was down to a few hundred yards at times.
In the end Zimmerman took the race, followed by Malcolm Smith of Bermuda and Hank Saurage of the US. All of this is unofficial. Results are not posted yet and the protest period has not passed.
The fleet is in for the day as we ride out a coming storm line under a tornato watch. Full results will be posted here once available.
PS: It would be so nice if some others would jump in with their thoughts/reflections.
No results posted and lots of activity with people getting permission retroactively to change parts that exploded on the beach. But it's clear that things have tightened up at the top. Defending Champ Alexander Zimmerman broke his rudder before the first start of the day leaving the beach but was able to replace it fast enough to make the start and win the first 2 races (see post below for writeup of race 1 of Tuesday/Race 2 overall).
Conditions on Tuesday started out with the breeze howling from the north and gradually diminishing.
Four races were completed, the last two in under 10 MPH with a big lumpy seas, making for an interesting challenge for many of the sailors who had depowered for the morning.
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Udated at noon on Oct. 8: UNOFFICIAL:
After two races (one on Monday one on Tuesday) defending champ Alexander Zimmermann of Peru has two bullets. Jean Paul Trazegnie of Peryuu is second. Andre Quintero of Colombia is 3rd.
Conditions are a stiff northerly ranging from 18-25 MPH, bringing big waves as the bay is wide open from that direction. Skies are cloudy and temps are in the 60s. Several sailors had their boats pummeled on the surf leading the beach, causing a frenzy of repairs/replacements of spars, rudders and bodies. Only about 45 of the 74 sailors left the beach for the first race. Condidions are expected to deteriorate after today, so the race committee is trying to get as many races in today.
Per the NOR, it looks like only (1) race is required to constitute a championship.
If they do race tomorrow, they will get to 6 (or more) races, and can drop 1 race score, which is even more in Zimmerman's favor (if he can finish top 10 again). Word on the Twitter is that he is VERY good.
Zimmerman is a repeat champion - finishes with 19 points after just the 5 races, as racing was cancelled again today (20+MPH winds, big waves). Paul-Jon Patin and Dave Mendelblatt both finish with 22 points.
Zimmerman is a repeat champion - finishes with 19 points after just the 5 races, as racing was cancelled again today (20+MPH winds, big waves). Paul-Jon Patin and Dave Mendelblatt both finish with 22 points.