Switzerland’s Junior Wins 6MR World Championship Open Division. Spain’s Bribon Takes Classic Title
Report by Tara Smith September 21, 2017
Vancouver, British Columbia
Race report Day 5
Six Metre Class World Championship
Sun and blue sky with some wind in the forecast, today was a perfect last day for the 6mR Worlds event. A short postponement was hoisted ashore to give time for the Westerly to fill in.
Open division started in 7-8 knots of wind, most of the fleet continued on starboard for the beach, some playing the shifts and looking for clear air up the middle of the course. The first weather mark rounding Scallywag USA 114 and Courage USA 118 had a great up wind leg, followed by Sophie II SUI 132. Courage found pressure down the shore, Junior SUI 77, Evelina FIN 78 and Sting USA 127 dug deep and sailed down the middle of the course. Again, the fleet sailed towards the shore side of the course upwind. Junior SUI 77 managed to cross the line in 1st, Scallywag II finished in 2nd with a top finish! And Courage finished in 3rd.
Classic fleet started and also continued on starboard towards the beach, unfortunately a few boats were over early in the start. Goose and Saga rounded the weather mark in the top group, together with Lucie close behind. Again, the boats sailed towards the beach on starboard tack. The second weather mark Saskia II KC 19 rounded first, Fridolin, Goose, Mena and Sprig in order. The fleet splits at the leeward mark with later boats rounding the left gate and sailing offshore for a short while looking for clear air. The Classic Division finishes with Saskia II crossing the line in 1st, Fridolin finishes in 2nd and Mena in 3rd with their best finish of the event.
The last race of the 6mR Worlds for the Open division, Courage was on fire and rounded the weather mark with Evelina, New Sweden close behind and looking to move up. By the last weather mark rounding Evelina was still ahead with New Sweden in 2nd and Courage in 3rd. The wind had dropped to 4-5 knots as boats sail to the finish. Evelina finished the race 1st, New Sweden 2nd and Courage in 3rd.
Hosted by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC), the Six Metre World Championship was held from September 17 to 21 with 47 yachts from 11 countries participating. This was the first time Canada had hosted the regatta since it began in 1973.