2004 HARKEN LASER WORLD
           CHAMPIONSHIPS        Bitez, Bodrum, Turkey

Laser Senior Worlds 10 - 19 May 2004

Report: Day 6

The thermal Meltemi failed develop today for the sixth day of racing in the Harken Laser World Championships in Bitez, Turkey.  Whilst the fleet were held ashore the Race Committee watched a light easterly swing slowly to the south.  They then watched a thunderstorm build over the Greek Island of Kos, five miles to the south of the course, which further affected the wind.  As the storm cell dissipated the fleet were called afloat only to find another storm cell building which also affected the wind.  When that disappeared an attempt was made to start even though further cells were developing 8 miles to the north of the course area.  After 3 attempts at a start the gold fleet finally got away in 12 knots of southerly wind.  Five minutes later the northerly system started affecting the course turning the beat into a fetch for those on the right side of a 60 degree shift and the race was abandoned.

The wind then died and started to fill from the north as the sun came out and a new course set in the hope that the breeze would build.  It managed 7 knots but was unstable and at 5pm the Race Committee sent the fleet home.

Strong winds are forecast for the last day and an earlier start has been scheduled in an attempt to get to ten races so a second discard can be counted.

Whatever happens tomorrow Robert Scheidt BRA and Michael Blackburn  AUS cannot be caught by the chasing pack.  They will have their own race with 6 times world champion, Scheidt, going for an unprecedented seventh world title in one of the most competitive classes currently sailing.  With 5 continents in the top ten there is still plenty of scope for place changing and plenty to go for as a number of sailors try to make certain of their place in the Athens Olympics.

Overall results with 1 discard;

  1. Robert Scheidt BRA 14 pts
  2. Michael Blackburn AUS 18pts
  3. Mark Mendelblatt USA 27pts
  4. Hamish Pepper NZL 37pts
  5. Andreas Geritzer AUT 38pts
  6. Karl Sunneson SWE 52pts
  7. Tom Slingsby AUS 62pts
  8. Peer Moberg NOR 66pts
  9. Paul Goodison GBR 71pts
  10. Gareth Blackenberg RSA 74pts
  11. Thomas Le Breton FRA 83pts
  12. Milan Vujasinovic CRO 86pts
  13. Pieter-Jan Postma NED 90pts
  14. Vasilij Zbogar SLO 94pts
  15. Brendan Casey AUS 102pts

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