ABERDEEN RACING ACADEMY
January Edition: Newsletter 10 - 2018 29er Pre-Worlds
INTRODUCTION
The 29er Pre-worlds has now finished - this proved to be great preparation for our team, and also produced some great results from our Academy sailors. However, the real work starts when the team start racing in the 2018 29er Worlds beginning on the 3rd January until the next World champion is crowned on the 8th January.
Please remember to watch for updates on the ARA facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/aberdeenracingacademy/?fref=hovercard
29er Pre-Worlds
Day 1
ARA's first day of the 3 day Pre-world event began early at 7.30 am with a warm up session from our partners at Strive Fitness. This was followed by a wind / tide briefing and breakfast.
Racing was initially delayed due to the race committee finding gusts of 32 to 34kts in the Beaufort Channel. The race track was eventually laid off Stanley Bay with a few competitors opting to stay on land to avoid any breakages before the Worlds.
Four quick races were held in a mid-20s north easterly breeze and it was a tough, albeit exciting, first day on the water with many capsizes and a few retirements throughout the day.
Harriette and Russell did well, their weight proving to be a huge advantage in the windier conditions. Karrie/Akira, Malo/Anatole, Harriette/Russell and Cosmos/Nathan finished all four races. Karrie and Malo both struggled a little in their races caused by the high winds, this was more evident in race 2 which saw numerous capsizes from all teams. The team finished the day with the following results.
Cosmos/Nathan - 5th
Harriette/Russell - 6th
Malo/Anatole - 9th
Karrie/Akira - 10th
Day 2 saw the race course laid at Po Toi, wind was averaging at 12 knots with a swell coming from the right. The left side of the course seemed to be the most promising which Malo/Anatole took advantage of and were first around the top mark, Karrie/Akira were not too far behind in 3rd position. Malo/Anatole continued their lead until the bottom mark where both ARA teams were neck and neck, Malo/Anatole rounded the left mark while Karrie/Akira rounded the right and tacked shortly after rounding. This was to their advantage overtaking Malo/Anatole. Karrie/Akira pulled away and finished 1st. Malo/Anatole finished 4th.
Race 2 saw similar outcomes, our lighter boats were relishing the conditions and results from the ARA team continued to exceed expectations, Karrie/Akira had their second bullet of the day, Malo/Anatole once again finished 4th. Casey/Nathan also finished well in 9th place. Harriette/Russell finished 12th but were finding the conditions harder as they were heavier.
Race 3 and 4 once again saw Karrie/Akira finish with a 1st and a 2nd. Cosmos/Penelope were gradually improving as the day progressed finishing with a 16th in race 4, the best result of the day for them.
A great day for the team, Karrie/Akira had jumped from 10th position to 2nd overall.
Day 3, the final day of the 29er Hong Kong Open got away with blue skies and good breeze which built slightly throughout the day with a few twists and turns to keep the sailors busy. Racing was tight and even with the close fleet, no protests were lodged throughout the entire regatta. A little adrenalin was pumping amongst the Race Management volunteers when a tanker decided to cross the course during one race but luckily most of the fleet were already nearing the finish.
Augustin/Adam had the best result of their regatta in race 9 finishing 16th while Casey/Nathan struggled in the heavier wind conditions. Lewis/Tiger made their debut and completed 3 of the 4 races of day 3, their best result was 21st, an ok finish for the pair who have hardly sailed together. Karrie/Akira, once again dominated race 9 getting their 4th bullet of the Open.
Karrie/Akira eventually finished 2nd overall, 5 points behind the lead Hong Kong boat. Well done to them both.
29er Worlds Opening Ceremony
The 29er Worlds opening ceremony took place at RHKYC's Kellet Island club on the 2nd January 2018. Racing begins tomorrow. To follow the team please remember to check our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/aberdeenracingacademy/. Results can be found on the link below.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Hong Kong Race Week 2018
SPONSORSHIP
SUBSCRIPTION
Aberdeen Boat Club
Email: dinghycoach@abclubhk.com
Website: http://www.abclubhk.com
Location: Aberdeen Boat Club Ltd., 20 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Phone: 852 2552 8182
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aberdeenracingacademy/
Strive Fitness
Email: info@strivefitnesshk.com
Website: http://www.strivefitnesshk.com
Location: Shop 415 The Arcade Cyberport, Pokfulam Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2338 9622
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strivefitnesshk/