Rakocy extends lead at the OK Europeans
Robert Deaves, IFA
Posted: 29 Jul. 2010
Bartosz Rakocy gets away from the rest of the fleet downwind - Norbert Petraucsh pic
After a second shifty offshore breeze day, Batozs Rakocy extended his lead at the OK Europeans in Medemblik, Netherlands, while Jorgen Lindhardtsen moved up to second place, with Race 6 winner Greg Wilcox (NZL) in third after six races.
The forecast of stronger winds were not accurate and day three was sailed in
8-12 knots of shifty offshore winds with 20-30 degree shifts upsetting at least half of the fleet,
The left hand side was generally favoured in race five and was led from start to finish by the overnight leader Rakocy to cement his lead at the top of the score sheet.
Jorgen Lindhardtsen (DEN) finished second and day one leader Terry Curtis (GBR) found his earlier form to finish third. The race was perhaps defined by the number of black flags including front runners Tim Goodbody (IRL), Pawel Pawlaczyk (POL) and Antoni Pawlowski (POL), which has significantly changed the overall ordering.
Race six was characterised by a large right shift on the first beat and a large left shift on the second beat which left the leaders laughing and the tail enders hoping.
Racer winner, Greg Wilcox (NZL) said, "It was another tricky day. There was quite a big left hand shift at the start so I was pretty sure it was going to come back so I started at the boat end and went right and when it came back I flipped and worked up the shifts up middle right hand side with Tim Goodbody (IRL)." At the top mark Goodbody led from Wilcox and Rakocy.
"Tim and Bartosz dragged each other a bit high in the second reach and I got through to leeward of them. I extended a little bit up the second beat and the three of us left the fleet behind. They then shortened the run which made it a bit easier with Bartosz sitting on Tim down the run," he said. Goodbody finally finished second to Bartosz in third.
"It was the kind of the day when a lot of people made one mistake too many and paid a big price for it, especially with the black flags. It was the 'moving day' - you either consolidate what you have done, or move backwards. Today was that day," Wilcox explained.
After six races one discard has now kicked in. Rakocy had a very good day with a 1-3 to move into a ten point lead and Lindhardtsen, the 1978 world champion and 1998 European champion, also had a good day with a 2-5 to move into second overall and. After a 5-1, Greg Wilcox, the 2002 World Champion, moves into third overall.
Racing continues to Friday with four more races scheduled. On Wednesday night the sailors enjoyed free beer night at the Brakeboer pub by the quayside. With the sailing causing enough sore heads, a few more will not make any difference...
Results after 6 races
1 POL 19 Bartosz Rakocy 12
2 DEN 1364 Jørgen Lindhardtsen 22
3 NZL 522 Greg Wilcox 28
4 IRL 10 Tim Goodbody 33
5 GER 693 Martin von Zimmermann 40
6 GER 731 Thomas Glas 43
7 GBR 2118 Terry Curtis 43
8 POL 31 Antoni Pawlowski 50
9 POL 14 Pawel Pawlaczyk 51
10 GER 717 Oliver Gronholz 52
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