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12 Metre World Championship:
Day 4: Vim Stretches Lead; Others Making Repairs
A long night ahead for Helsinki sailmakers
Follow the racing LIVE (or recorded playback) via Sport Rec Race Tracker
HELSINKI, FI (August 20, 2021) – After two days without sailing due to extreme weather conditions, official competition for the 2021 Evli 12mR World Championship resumed today with three races held in the Gulf of Finland, hosted by Nyländska Jaktklubben, NJK.
With pent up anticipation, the crew energy was palpable around sunny Helsinki harbor this morning as sailors raced to the NJK docks on bicycles and scooters. The first race started at 10:05 EEST, south of Isossari Island with steady 16-18 knot winds increasing to 20 kts+ in choppy 1.5-1.7m seas.
In Race One of the day (3rd of the series), Wings (K-15) led the fleet followed closely by Vim (US-15) and Blue Marlin (FIN-1). Wings was first to the weather mark and continued in the lead downwind until a malfunctioning spinnaker pole trip line resulted in the pole remaining on the lee side of the boat after a gybe. The following spinnaker takedown and late jib hoist further reduced Wings speed which enabled Blue Marlin and Vim to advance close abeam as the three yachts approached the mark. Vim emerged just clear ahead while Wings established an outside overlap on Blue Marlin. During the rounding Blue Marlin was on the receiving end of contact (3 “taps”) to her transom by Wing’s bow. As Wings completed her required 360 penalty turn, a mainsail batten parted ripping a hole in the mainsail. Shortly after this series of mishaps, Wings’ skipper hailed the Race Committee to announce their retirement from the race as they headed to the dock for a mainsail change; unfortunately they were unable to return to the course for the remaining two races of the day.
August 20, Day Four photos by Lauri Hänninen
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At the start of Race Two Vim (US-15) and Blue Marlin (FIN-1) entered the course from opposite sides of the line, the former at the RC boat the later at the pin end. Each continued to sail out to opposite sides of the course with Filca II (K-14) covering Vim. On their first crossing, mid-course Blue Marlin on port, was forced to duck Vim sailing on starboard but did cross in front of Flica II as they continued to alternate sides of the course. Meanwhile, Nini Anker (K-14) suffered a coffee-grinder (winch) breakdown which dictated her retirement and return to the dock for repairs. Further back, Vema III (N-11), Vanity V (K-5) and Thea (D-1) sailed closely together throughout vying for the 4th place finish. Jenetta’s (K-1) mainsail had parted after the 2nd mark rounding and she too was forced to retire from racing for the day. There were no further position changes in this race– the finish order being Vim, Blue Marlin, Flica II, Vema III, Vanity V and Thea.
Five of the nine yacht fleet started Race Three; four finished. Blue Marlin (FIN-1) suffered mainsail damage early on and also retired for the day. Through attrition of the fleet and sheer persistence Vema III (N-11) who sailed all three races of the day without incident (as did 103-year old Thea (D-1), added a third place finish in this race moving her up in the overall standings. Finish positions in the four boat final race of the day race were Vim, Flica II, Vema III and Thea.
In the overall standings of the 5 race series (now with one toss-out), the top three competitors are Vim (US-15) with 4 points, followed by Blue Marlin (FIN-1) with 9 points and Flica II (K-14) in third place to date with 12 points.
Racing wraps up tomorrow (Saturday) with 2 races planned. Follow the action LIVE (or recorded playback) via Sport Rec Race Tracker.
August 20, Day Four photos by Erik Lähteenmäki | Sailpix.fi
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2021 12 Metre Worlds
Day 4 (August 20) 3 Races
12mR – Vintage (9 Boats)
1. Vim (US-15), Helmuth Henning, Patrick Howaldt & Ditley Wedell Wedellsborg, Copenhagen, DK: (3) – 1 -1 -1 -1 ; 4
2. Blue Marlin (FIN-1), Henrik Andersin, Kotka, FI: 1 – 4 – 2 – 2 – (RET 10) ; 9
3. Flica II (K-14), Alexander Falk, Hamburg, DE: 2 – (5) – 5 – 3 – 2; 12
4. Jenetta (K-1), Thomas Müller, Flensburg, DE: (5) – 2 – 4 – RDG-3.7 – RDG-3.7; 13.4
5. Nini Anker (N-15), Christoph Avenarius, Hamburg, DE: 4 – 6 – 3 – (RET 10)- DNS -10; 23
6. Vema III (N-11), Johan Troye, Oslo, Norway, NOR: (9) – 9 – 7 – 4 – 3; 23
7. Vanity V (K-5), Mikael Stelander, Helsinki, FI: 6 – 7 – 6 – (DSQ-10) – 4; 23
8. Thea (D-1), Jacob Holst, Copenhagen, DK: 8 – 8 – 8 – 5 (10-DNS); 29
9. Wings of Cowes (K-15), Philipp Skafte-Holm, Copenhagen, DK (with Finnish & Danish crew): 7 – 3 – (RET-10) – DNS 10 – DNS-10 ; 30
(end)
NOTE: Spectators may view the beautiful Vintage 12mR fleet in transit to the race course between 9.00 – 9.30 each morning and returning after completing 2 races at approximately 15.00 each afternoon.
Please see the complete Schedule here.
Presenting Sponsor
The 2021 Evli 12 Metre World Championship is presented by EVLI Bank, an investment management firm headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.
Supporting Day Sponsors are: Baltic Yachts, Keisari, Normet, Red Sky Yachts, Roschier, Scandic and Stanton Chase.
Additional Products & Service Providers include: Brandscape, Delicatessen, Fazer, Fiskars Group, Helsinki Helsingfors, Interbrands, Järvikylän, Jouko Lindgren, Kruunu Herkku, NOHO Nordic Hospitality Partners, North Sails, Sassan Ruokakassi, Suomen Jäätelö, Veikko Laine, Villi, and Windlass Creative
ABOUT NYLÄNDSKA JAKTKLUBBEN (NJK)
Founded in 1861, the Nyländska Jaktklubben, NJK is Finland’s premier yacht club as well as its oldest registered sports organization. NJK has been the forerunner of Finnish yacht racing culture and has a long history with the Metre Classes. The Clubhouse, located on the beautiful island of Blekholmen is situated in Helsinki’s South Harbour, adjacent to the city center with berths for 125 yachts. NJK accommodates their 2500+ members, berths 440 sailing yachts, 90 dinghies and 374 motorboats at their two main harbours in Helsinki as well as at an additional 10 outstations in the Finnish archipelago, with the most westerly on the Åland Islands.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL 12 METRE ASSOCIATION (ITMA)
The 112 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world’s foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the pinnacle of yacht development from 1907-1987 for the highest levels of international sailing competition– the Olympic Games (1908-1920) and the America’s Cup (1958-1987).
The 2021 EVLI 12mR World Championship is a sustainable event that takes a stand on social, economic and environmental issues. We have created a Sustainability Action Plan, which will enhance social and economic well-being and minimize the carbon footprint of the regatta.
WE WANT TO USE & PRODUCE ONLY WHAT IS NEEDED AND NOTHING MORE!
For more information on the 12 Metre Worlds visit https://12mrworlds.com/
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CONTACTS:
Event Chairman
Henrik Andersin
Media Inquires
Kim Weckström