Big Breeze Challenges Fleet at 09 Six Metre World Cup
Thursday, September 10th, 2009Competitors arriving at Sail Newport this morning to prepare for the second day of racing in the 2009 Six Metre World Cup were greeted by whitecaps on Narragansett Bay courtesy of a brisk northeasterly (upwards of 15 knots at 0900) that whipped through Newport as a low and a high pressure system fought for control of the day’s weather. It was a stark contrast to yesterday’s light air racing for the two divisions of “Sixes” – Classics (built 1906-1965) and Moderns (built since 1966) – which took place off Beavertail Point and saw one race abandoned and one completed for both divisions. Going “outside” for today’s race was not an option for these delicate yachts, and, with the conditions humming, the Race Committee elected to utilize course B situated between Jamestown and Gould Islands north of the Newport Bridge. However, passage under the bridge was hampered as the windspeed, trending upward, agitated 6-7 foot choppy seas beneath the center span of the bridge. Under postponement, the RC held the 34-boat fleet south of the span until the tide changed and the seas smoothed before signaling the fleet to proceed to the race course. One race was completed in breeze between 18 and 22 knots and while a second race was planned, the fleet was sent in when the wind increased to 25 knots. Even a cruise ship anchored off Rose Island was dragging anchor in the rough conditions.
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