#Santander2014 - No racing yesterday meant the ISAF Worlds race management team were under pressure not only to complete the originally scheduled races, but also to also make up for the missed races yesterday. A total of 55 races were planned across nine classes, with only the RS:X windsurfing women not taking to the water.
Thankfully the wind had arrived by late morning, between 7-12 knots depending on which of the seven courses they were on, though it did die off again later in the afternoon, causing postponements and abandonments all round.
Following their rest day yesterday, James Espey and Annalise Murphy were back on the water again with the Laser Gold Fleets. Murphy was on form for her first Laser Radial Gold race of the day, dominated at the top of the 60-boat fleet to finish in fifth place – an important result in such tricky conditions.
Later in the afternoon Race 7 was attempted and then abandoned as the wind dropped. As it stands, Murphy is now 28th overall and 21st nationally. After tomorrow’s final day of fleet racing, the top 19 nations will earn an Olympic spot for Rio 2016.
In the Laser Standard Gold Fleet, Espey had two mid-fleet results. Lying 26th overnight, he slipped to 34th overall after a 28th and 36th in Races 6 and 7. He will continue racing tomorrow, with the top 10 from the 147 competitors then progressing to the medal race on Thursday to fight for the world title.
Meanwhile, Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern in the 49er had a strong start with a second place finish in Race 1 for the Blue Fleet. They followed that up with 15th place in Race 2 but slipped down the fleet to 38th in the day's third race. They have one more day of qualification fleet racing tomorrow before the Gold, Silver and Bronze split.
Also, ISA development sailors Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey finally made their Santander debut this morning in the 49erFX. Initially they sailed two races in the Yellow fleet, placing an encouraging 16th and 11th, putting them 29th overall out of 55 once the Blue Fleet had also sailed.
Just before 7pm local time the pair sailed one more race in very difficult light conditions. The entire fleet were struggling and the course was shortened but later abandoned.
The Finn class also began racing today which included one Irish sailor in Ross Hamilton. He had a 27th in his first race, putting him 53rd overall. Not further races were successful completed. Finn Lynch and the Laser Bronze Fleet also attempted one race in the early evening which was promptly abandoned.
Racing is scheduled tomorrow for all fleets.