Global Warming is Alive & Well in Hauraki Bay

For the second straight day, Romeo course was dogged by dying winds. Barely two markers were completed before cancellation. Pure mid-summer Kiwi weather.

On Juliet course, both Italian teams played their cards right on the third leeward leg finding better wind on the right side and reversing a nasty position into a dominating one. Bad luck hit Mascalzone as it did not round the third marker in the regulated 45 minutes time lapse; it could have used the point against GBR. Both GBR & Örn were guilty of not match racing tack for tack.

LR cut the finish line with 1:02 to spare in their 45 minute span. Although only one race was completed, cardiologists may see their phones ringing a bit more often in the next few hours.

LR's point is huge against a potential opponent. Nonetheless, the boat did not show good speed windward. Maybe the boat was well designed for slower conditions, but this point is all to Torben Grael's credit.

The announcement that ITA-80 is going back into the shop for what is imagined to be major overhauls, means ITA-74 will continue racing through to the end of Round Robin 2. Weather conditions and past results practically assure that LR will be part of Group B.