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Perfect sailing conditions and warm sunshine for
the last racing day of the Garda Trentino Open Match
Race.
Jesper Radich won the event, defeating Ed Baird
by 3-2. It was a tough and exciting duel - with
shifting winds, a change of course, gear failure
and a protest against the Race Committee discussed
on the finish line.
In the morning the four top skippers from the round
robins raced in the semifinals knock out series.
Ed Baird, winner of the rounds, chose Mark Campbell-James
as his opponents, while Jesper Radich raced against
Mathieu Richard. Around 12.45pm, when both matches
were tied 1-1 and the wind was beginning to drop,
the Race Committee decided to modify the format
and end the semifinals with the first team to score
2 points instead of 3.
In the decisive matches Baird won over Campbell-James
and Radich had the best over Mathieu Richard.
In the afternoon the wind increased again and Baird
and Radich fought an intense duel. Baird won match
one, but lost to Radich in match two. In the third
match it was Baird to score the point again, reaching
2-1.
In the following match, Baird’s mainsail halyard
broke during the first beat and Radich, ahead by
one boat length at the time, sailed to his second
win. Baird had do change boats and in the meantime
the wind started to shift with sudden gusts all
over the course due to an approaching thunderstorm.
The Race Committee was forced to re-position the
course for the decisive match of the finals. Radich
was able to cross the finish line ahead of Baird,
gaining – in theory – the final victory.
Baird, however, protested the Race Committee for
the starting procedure. While the crews returned
to shore, the Jury and the Committee stayed out
on the water to decide the outcome of the protest.
In the petit final, raced with the "reduced"
format (first to score 2 points), Campbell-James
won the first match. Richard was then able to score
2 consecutive points, winning the petit final.
Semifinals results
Flight 1 : Radich def. Richard
Campbell-James def. Baird
Flight 2 Richard def. Radich Baird def. Campbell-James
Flight 3 Radich def. Richard Baird def. Campbell-James
Finals results
Flight
1 : Baird def. Radich
Flight 2 : Radich def. Baird
Flight 3 : Baird def. Radich
Flight 4 : Radich def. Baird
Flight 5 : Radich def. Baird
Petit Finals results
Flight 1 : Campbell-James
def. Richard
Flight 2 : Richard def. Campbell-James
Flight 3 : Richard def. Campbell-James
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