Final days are always difficult for organisers and competitors alike but the final day of the Finn World Masters in La Rochelle was made more difficult by the strong winds and early rain showers that swept through the area.
Too much wind spoiled the show for the 285 Finn Masters at La Rochelle on Thursday. With the wind whistling through the rigging all morning the sailors waited ashore under postponement for a final announcement at 14.30. By this time the wind afloat had moderated to 14-16 knots and the first fleet was sent out. However by the time they got there it was a solid 24-26 knots and the fleet was turned around and sent straight back in.
It was moving day at the Finn World Masters in La Rochelle; the day everything changes, the day between the beginning and the end. There were lots of changes at the top with several favourites picking up high scores after the only race sailed. Michael Maier (CZE) sailed a flawless race to claim his second race win and take the overall lead. Andre Budzien (GER) sailed one he would probably prefer to forget and dropped to second, while Erik Lidecis (USA) placed seventh to end the day one point behind Budzien.
With little respite in the weather, the Finn World Masters in La Rochelle, completed two more great races in moderate, cold winds. Three time champion Andre Budzien (GER) takes the lead from Erik Lidecis (USA) and Michael Maier (CZE). Race wins went to Budzien, Maier, Paul Blowers (GBR) and Karl Purdie (NZL).
They said come to France, it will be sunny and hot. They said the water will be warm and they said it never rains here. They lied. However they were right about one thing. The racing on the opening day of the 2013 Finn World Masters in La Rochelle was simply fantastic. Despite the cold inclement weather, with low cloud, non-stop drizzle and temperatures around 10 degrees, about 95 per cent of the fleet went racing and a grand time was had by all.
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