6mR Worlds
The ugly, bad, good, and musical trophies
The Six Meter World’s were
completed last week and now that I am back stateside, I can file a post regatta
report. Many of the participants were asking about if I was going to be doing
daily reports but I thought it best for me to submit a post event report based
on what was happening during the event.
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club hosted
the event and once again they didn’t disappoint when it came to their treatment
of guests and their ability to actually score an event.
Let’s start with the fleet, which
consisted of so many heavy hitters it was ridiculous. World Champions,
America’s Cup, and Olympic sailors abound. Quite the collection in the classics
and moderns alike. So much talent gilded around an awful venue that featured
tankers who affected the racing, a PRO who thought is wasn’t a big deal that
said tankers affected the laylines or, in the case of our boat, moved as we
approached the weather mark. In the words of one of the top competitors “the
worst World’s venue ever”, and I agree.
Just to be clear, tankers should
never be part of a World’s venue…
So, let’s move on the pre-world’s
regatta: The Westerleigh Cup. Moderns and classics battling it out. In the
moderns, the local golden boat, New Sweden won. When it came to the classics,
there were two results: Dennis Conner on My Be VII had won on the official
board and on the scrolling high tech RVYC board, Lucie had won.
When it came to the trophies it
was announced that DC had won and there was all the usual pomp and
circumstance. Turns out it was all a load of crap and two days later the trophy
was awarded to Matt Book’s Lucie. More on them later.
When it came to the worlds, we
got a look at interesting team dynamics from the local ‘hot shots’ who decided
to ask for redress after over standing a weather mark. They actually got it
from the PC and a firestorm ensued with multiple protests being filed. New
information was the reason for reopening the protest, but it was apparent that
the New Sweden information prior protest was bullshit and they and their
advisors were about to get deep sixed in the 6mR fleet. Luckily for them, the
results were corrected.
When the dust settled, we saw the
cream rise to the proverbial top. In the moderns last year’s champion, Junior,
dominated and slid into the top slot like a true champion team. A polished team
that is at the top of their game.
In the classic’s, is was so great
to see the King of Spain win with the venerable Gallant Bribon. To say he and
his crew were a class act would truly be an understatement.