Great sailing opens Nordic event. Despite threats of rain and lack of wind, the first two races of the Open Nordic Farr 40 Championship went very well in slightly shifty 10-14 knots north easterly winds that challenged helsmen and tacticians alike. To keep the boatspeed throughout and going in the right direction was the key to success in the two races that were held. Four boats dominated both and the lead is deservedly in the hands of the Jahn family, Helmut steering «Flash Gordon» upwind, his son Evan steering at the starts and downwind, with tactician Mark Ivey. Asked about the how they could be so consistent, Helmut Jahn, a successful Chicago architect told us that they were out on the racecourse early and got into the racing mood long before the start. After the first race which they won handily they immediately concentrated on the next race, laying the foundation for another good result. – We were clear thet going right was the thing to to. That was where the weather was moving, and we anticpated that the shift would come from the right, said tactician Ivey . It did, and put the Chigaco team in second place after the first beat, behind «Struntje Light» with Wolfgang Scheafer and tactician Jesper Bank, resigned skipper of the German «United Internet» team in the America´s Cup. «Flash Gordon» found free air on the run and claimed the lead which they never gave up.
- The sailing at Hankø was really great today, said Jahn sr. – Todays races were better than any we have had in the Med sofar.
The second race encountered a 20 degree windship to the right of the first beat, pushing the experienced Vincenzo Onorato in «Mascalzone Latino» firmly in the lead.
During the two runs and subsequent beat the Italian America´s Cup owners just left the opposition behind taking the biggest victory of the day. Squalls over land gave the race committee a hard time and after one futile effort in getting the fleet started, the ventually called it a day.
For provisional results please click HERE.
Hanko - 05 July 2007 17:29
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