Strong Winds Blow Out Racing at Delta Lloyd Regatta

With gusts hitting over thirty knots on Thursday's day 3 above the Ijsselmeer, the conditions were so rough that the Race Committee decided to send all sailors ashore and abandon most of the racing for the day at the 2011 Delta Lloyd Regatta. The 470 men's fleet were sent out, and did a bit of the race before being sent ashore with racing abandoned. Nice conditions for a 470 though – albeit challenging – with 25-30 knots.

We caught up with 470 helm Piotr Ogrodnik from Poland, currently in 33 overall who commented, “The conditions on the water were so difficult. I think it got up to 30 or more knots. No chance to race in these circumstances, so I agree with the decision to abandon the race.”

Conditions have been challenging so far, both for the sailors and Race Committee. Strong winds on Tuesday, light winds on Wednesday and a blow out today. The on-site service centre team representative noted, “I’ve seen some broken 470 masts but I think most teams have enough spare parts at the moment. Maybe they will be here more at the end of the week.”

Strong conditions don’t always mean a lot of broken parts, as some sailors choose not to sail in strong wind just to save their boats. According to the service centre, “Especially the competitors who have to pay for it themselves, they are very careful with their equipment.”

For the Canadian team, Monday was their bad day! Andrew McCorquodale and Oliver Bone broke their mast on Monday just before the first race and posted two DNS scores on day 1. However, they demonstrated their potential for the rest of the series by following up with a 13, 6 results posting yesterday. We will see what unfolds the rest of the week.

Have a look at the great initiative from the Japan Sailing Federation – to raise money to reconstruct sailing facilities and buy equipment which was devastated by the Tsunami.

Racing is scheduled to get underway tomorrow, Friday 28 May, at 1000 hours local time.

Check out our photo gallery from onsite photographer Thom Touw on our Facebook page.

More Information:
Event Website and Results
Day 2 Report
Day 1 Report

Image: Korea's Gunwoo Park and Sungmin Cho racing on day 2 © Thom Touw