With a building south-westerly forecast for the day’s racing, the race committee decided a dramatic change was in order.
With the essence of WaveGP built around spectator-friendly racing close to shore, allowing spectators and sailors alike to see all the action, along with a start and finish on the beach, Barfleur Beach on the northern side of Plantation Point does not lend itself particularly well to a southerly. Fortunately, Nelsons Beach provided the perfect location, allowing for a race track to be set parallel to the shoreline.
Thirteen sailors hit the water for the day, completing more than a dozen round-robin races over the 90-minute racing window, with each sailor counting four heats towards their overall score.
The south-westerly proved to be a tricky one, oscillating up to 30 degrees throughout the afternoon. Combined with a small shore break, even getting off the beach provided plenty of excitement for competitors and spectators alike.
The racing was incredibly close, with Paddy ultimately taking out the day on countback ahead of Marc. The final results came down to the very last race, highlighting just how competitive the fleet has become. Fionnbarr rounded out the podium in third place, while the returning young gun Eddie Hooper put together an impressive performance to finish fourth overall.
In the overall series standings, Paddy continues to lead the charge, holding an eight-point advantage over Adrian. Marc sits in third place, while Fionnbarr occupies fourth on countback ahead of Dobbo.
With two rounds now complete, the Winter WaveGP Series is shaping up to be one of the closest yet. Stay tuned for the next session of winter racing as the battle for the overall title continues.