NORDIC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2009, DAY 2
RACE 1
The second day of Melges24 Nordics being raced outside Tallinn started in a light southerly breeze of around 7 knots. Dark clouds moving over the race area over the course of the day resulted in very tricky winds for the competitors and choice of course side proved challenging. First at the windward mark was ex. Black Seal FIN-437 helmed by Patrick Bäck. Right behind came countryman Freddy Markelin helming FIN-645 and third FIN-434 helmed by Kim Westman. On the downwind leg the wind shifted slightly to the left side of the course, but the skippers were quick to react and top positions were kept with only Westman moving into second place. The Estonians EST-791 helmed by Peter Saraskin cut in to steal first position at the second windward mark, gybing to the right side of the course that now seemed to have the best breeze, with most of the fleet following their example. Keeping to the right side, Saraskin rounded the last leeward mark with a mexican drop, and kept the lead to the finish line with Markelin in second place and Bäck in third.
RACE 2
Race 2 started with a very crowded pin end of the line, which resulted in several of the points leaders getting parked in total wind cover with a miserable race start. First at the windward mark was EST-573 with match-racer Mati Sepp helming, second SWE-508 helmed by Claes Röjning and third FIN-236 helmed by Jorma Kinnunen. As in the start, the left side of the course stayed a favourite with the competitors. On the second beat the wind shifted slightly to the right, and Röjning managed to get in first to the second windward mark with a huge lead to the rest of the fleet. Röjning held on to the lead position by the second leeward mark, with EST-790 helmed by Tõnu Tõniste second and SWE-537 helmed by Jonas Svensson in third place. Tõniste however managed to pass Röjning on the last short beat, and took his first win of the races.
RACE 3
The city of Tallinn was hardly visible to the race area due to heavy raining as the third race started just after two o'clock. The fleet split roughly in two groups on each side of the course, trying to work out the shifting winds. First by the windward mark was SWE-508 helmed by Claes Röjning, second Mati Sepp's EST-573 and third Freddy Markelin's FIN-645. By this time the wind turned completely to south, forcing teams to tack to the spreader mark. The committée soon made the decision to abandon the race.
At the second attempt for the third race, the Estonian team EST-573 helmed by Mati Sepp got to an excellent start with one of the home favourites EST-791 helmed by Peter Saraskin close behind. Third up was Finnish team FIN-651 helmed by Kristian Raij. For the first downwind leg, the majority of the fleet chose the left side of the course, and top positions were kept with EST-790 helmed by Tõnu Tõniste quickly gaining pace and now in fourth position. The wind picked up for the run to the second leeward mark, and the fight for top positions intensified as Tõniste made an excellently manouvered mexican drop, with Sepp in second and Saraskin in third place. Tõniste kept his position to the finish line and now leads the points board after his two wins of today.
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In the mean while use the LIVE GPS tracking for living the moments again.
The protest room was busy during the evening - find the results HERE