The day started with light easterly winds and warm sunny temperatures. .. Again the AP flag was hoisted for all areas giving sailors enough time to check all their gear and get mentally prepared for afternoon racing.  However,  the breeze kicked in before noon so most of the classes were released to their courses at 11:00 AM.

Mistral´s competitiors were sent offshore at noon as the breeze started to increase. When sailors arrived to their racing area the race committee had already set the course so racing in a moderate breeze got underway quickly. The pin end was favoured so sailors who banged the left side made it to the top mark first.

First race, yellow group was dominated by Joeri van Dyk ( NED-77) who gained a nice lead over Nicolas Huguet ( FRA – 8) in second, Ikuo Inoue ( JPN- 8) in third position and the rest of the fleet. In blue, Joao Rodiguez ( POR- 75) also proved his physical and tactical skills in light wind racing and pumped his way well ahead of Kazuya Ueno ( JPN – 10) in second and Olivier Guyader (FRA – 2) in third.

The women´s started last and chased the men´s blue group up wind. Lee Lai Shan ( HKG – 1) showed an incredible performance and finished not only well ahead but also way into the back fleet of the blue group. Young star Lee Korzitz (ISR- 1111) finished second ahead of Anja Kaese ( SUI – 1) in third.

The 2nd round of racing started at 2:30 PM in a dieing breeze.  Tall ships with curious spectators who did not want to miss out on the top mark action and increasing current made racing even more difficult. This time working the shifts and gusts payed off.  Again Joao Rodriguez (POR- 75) and Maxim Oberemko ( UKR – 19) put a bullet to their record followed by Ho Chi Ho ( HKG – 6) and Ikuo Inoue ( JPN – 8) each in second and Stephane Jaouen ( FRA- 29) and Alexander Baronjan ( GER – 7) each in third position.

With the women Yasuko Kosuge ( JPN – 9) lead from start to finish followed by Lise Vidal  ( FRA – 24) in second and San San ( HKG – 1) in third position. Just as the big school ship parade has passed by the wind dropped down to 3-4 knots. The race commmittee was eager to start another race but finally had to admit that that there wasn´t just any wind to race.

Mahalo for joining in - Aline

For further results check out: www.kielerwoche.de/segelsport/Ergebnisse/Regattaergebnisse.as