Artemis Racing grabs overall lead on Day 2 of 2011 RC44 World Championships Puerto Calero, Lanzarote
Day 1 of 2011 RC44 World Championship was dominated by Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team, as they clinched an early lead in the event with eight points after three races. Despite their efforts, at the conclusion of Day 2, the 14-boat RC44 fleet saw a new
leader, Sweden’s Artemis Racing sailed by Torbjorn Tornqvist and Morgan Larson along with the crew.
Only one race could be commenced on the second day due to the lack of wind and 180 degree shifts, which delayed racing for two hours. During the race, the breeze was fluctuating from three to eight knots over the racing area at Puerto Calero, in Lanzarote.
The only race of the day got underway under eight knots of wind speed, but soon dropped to just four knots, as the fleet got to the first windward mark, dropping further until the finish. Despite the absence of winds, Artemis Racing drew the best out of
the conditions, as they were helped by a big shift and the side led the fleet until the end to dominate the standings with 11 points.
Morgan Larson, tactician of Artemis Racing, spoke to the media and said, “Our plan was to try and go left a little bit for the shift and for the current. It worked out better that we expected. Torbjorn and Andy Fethers, on the bow, timed the start perfectly
and managed to stay between the next boat and the mark the whole time, as we didn’t know which direction the wind was eventually going to go. At the end we were drifting to the finish.”
He added, “As always it’s tricky sailing here and Peter (Reggio the RC44 Race Officer) did a good job of squeezing that race in, although it got a little sketchy on the last leg!”
Overall result board at the conclusion of Day 2:
1. Artemis Racing 4, 5, 1, 1 = 11 points
2. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero 3, 1, 7, 7 = 18 points
3. No Way Back 1, 12, 3, 3 = 19 points
4. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team 2, 2, 4, 12 = 20 points
5. Ironbound 9, 3, 5, 4 = 21 points
6. Team Aqua 7, 8, 10, 2 = 27 points
7. Katusha 8, 11, 2, 8 = 29 points
8. RC44 Team CEEREF 6, 10, 8, 5 = 29 points
9. AEZ Sailing Team 5, 7, 9, 13, (1) = 35 points
10. Team Nika 10, 6, 13, 6 = 35 points
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