RC44 Portorož Cup 2018 – Report – Day 2

Tricky day on Piran Bay

Slovenia continued to deliver on day two of the RC44 Portorož Cup. With another light forecast, crew and race committee were relieved to arrive in Marina Portorož this morning to find a solid northeasterly breeze. Anticipating that this welcome situation might not last, PRO Peter Reggio coaxed crews off the dock early and managed to get the first race underway 20 minutes ahead of schedule.
In 12 knot winds and lumpy sea, Nico Poons and Charisma claimed the first race, showing a repeat of their form from the RC44 Calero Marinas Cup which the Monaco-based Dutchman’s team had won in March.
After race one there was a short pause afterwards to allow Team Nika and Aleph Racing time to effect repairs – the French boat had holed Team Nika’s transom with her bow just prior to the start but both continued racing.
The most impressive win of the day came from Chris Bake’s Team Aqua in race two. Winning the pin, they benefitted supremely out on the left side of the course. Coming in on the port layline, Team Aqua rounded the top mark more than 50m ahead – one of the biggest leads at this stage of a race recently seen in the RC44 class. Team Aqua extended around the rest of the race course to become the first boat to claim two bullets here in Slovenia.
A giant rain cloud over the land was playing havoc with the breeze which was disappearing by the end of race two, causing the fleet to be sent ashore. However they didn’t stay there long as an easterly breeze filled in enabling a third race to held in lighter flat water conditions. In this Team CEEREF led around the top mark, but a significant right shift enabled Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis Racing to reach the leeward gate ahead. With conditions turning lake-like on the second upwind, the race was shortened at the top mark by which time Team CEEREF had regained the lead.
At this half way stage of the RC44 Portorož Cup the local favourites hold a three point lead overall.

Source: Sailing Media Ltd
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