Day four of the Dragon Gold Cup 2023 in Torquay brought frustration for the sailors and race committee alike, as race four of the six-race series had to be abandoned on the second beat when the wind died off completely. As a result, there are no changes in the overall standings, and Lawrie Smith of Glandore YC continues to lead the fleet from Switzerland's Wolf Waschkuhn with Belgium’s Xavier Vanneste third, Andy Beadsworth sailing for Turkey fourth and Denmark’s Bo Johansen fifth.
The fleet had gone afloat early for an 09:30 start, knowing that the wind was likely to drop off by lunchtime. It took three attempts to get the race underway, but eventually, they started under the U flag and with a clear line. Conditions were already light and shifty, but it was sailable, so away they went under grey skies in about 6 knots from 045 degrees on a 2.5-mile first leg.
PROVISIONAL TOP FIVE AFTER THREE RACES
- 1st - Lawrie Smith, GBR815, Alfie - 1, 1, 3 = 4
- 2nd - Wolf Waschkuhn, SUI318, 1quick1 - 4, 4, 12 = 20
- 3rd - Xavier Vanneste, BEL82, Herbie - 5, 8, 8 = 21
- 4th - Andy Beadsworth, TUR12, Provezza Dragon - 16, 6, 2 = 24
- 5th - Bo Johansen, DEN423, Deja Vu Ver. 2.0 - 2, 24, 1 = 27
