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3:30 PM Mon 8 Dec 2008 GMT
The predicted 15-20 knot south-easterly wind did not materialise at the OAMPS Sydney International Regatta today instead, the prevalent summer nor-easterly kept all on their toes.
'The conditions at SIRs are different to any regatta in the world I ever sail at,' said Laser Radial sailor Tina Mihelic from Croatia, whose older brother Daniel is contesting the Laser class.
'It was tricky here last year and it's tricky again. For instance, I went around the first windward mark in Race 4 in first place, but near the downwind mark I made the wrong decision.
'The breeze just disappeared and I sat there while nine or so boats sailed through me,' said the 18 year-old who is second overall in the series after a the three races sailed today. She is one point behind the leader, Alison Young (GBR) in this close series.
'It is good training here and good for speed practice,' Mihelic says explaining her focus is on the first round of the ISAF Sailing World Cup at Sail Melbourne this month and the London 2012 Games.
Gabrielle King (AUS) won Race's 4 and 5 and is cautiously happy with her first foray into international adult competition. 'I had a lot better day than yesterday. I had a better handle on the breeze and I was thinking better,' said the modest university student.
'You really had to keep your guard up today, even if you had a big lead, because it was so shifty. It's great to be finally racing against international senior competition; it's good for my training skills and it's paying off. Better sailing at this level will come with experience,' said the effervescent 2007 and 2008 Laser Radial Youth World Champion, competing at her first Grade 1 event for Olympic selection.
Beijing Olympian Javier Hernandez (ESP) has taken the lead in the Laser Standard fleetfollowing a further three races today. Race Officials put three races to bed today and the Spaniard was in the top pack at every mark in every race. He finished second to Milan Vujasinovic (CRO) in Race 5, then took out the next two races.
Racing was extremely tight in all three races, and yesterday's leader, who has been relegated to second overall Michael Leigh (CAN) described the day: 'It was very shifty again and the pressure was up and down with quite a few wind shears. You can't make mistakes in a fleet like this.'
Winning both races sailed today, Beijing Olympian Jessica Crisp (AUS) has taken the lead in the RS:X sailboardfrom Richard Ellis (NZL) and Spaniard Bianca Manchon; the latter two are two points behind the Australian on equal 14 points following a further two races sailed off Rose Bay.
Klade Hauschildt (AUS) has retained his lead of the Laser RadialMen's, his bullet in Race 7 keeping him ahead of Scott Sydney (SIN) who is four points off the lead after winning Race 6 and placing second in Race 7. There is a big gap to third placed Mark Langford (AUS) who is 21 points behind the leader.
Hauschildt, a 19 year-old from Queensland, is making a name for himself following his 14th place finish at the 2008 Laser Radial Worlds and at this regatta is leading some very experienced sailors. A win at the OAMPS SIR would be a good major win for him.
Unlike last year, the British 49er duo of Paul Campbell-James/Mark Asquithhave been able to maintain the status quo at this year's SIRs, a second and a win today kept them ahead of their rivals by three points.
Australian Olympian Nathan Outteridge and crew Euan McNicol remain second overall, with their Aussie training partners David O'Connor/Iain Jensen five points behind in third.
'We almost had Nathan, then we got headed, but I'm rapt with where we're at. We're on the pace with the good guys, and that's the main thing,' said O'Connor, who said testing gusty winds of up to 20 knots, with a thunderstorm on approach, made it hard going for the fleet, as winds increased during the afternoon.
A surprising 11 Australian Finns are participating at SIR- the most Aussie entries seen in Australia for some years. Some up and coming new talent has appeared on the scene and Olympic coach Mike Fletcher has been pleasantly surprised by the talent, particularly as the class has never been big here.
'There's a couple of young guys here showing a good aptitude for the class, they're quite talented - guys like James Paterson whose leading at the moment and Warwick Hill,' Fletcher said of the two who have been accepted into the Australian Sailing Development squad.
Paterson, from South Australia and Hill, from Victoria, are five points apart with one day of racing remaining.
All other classes were able to fit their scheduled races in today, courtesy of the increasing nor' easter.
Organised by Yachting NSW, the ISAF Grade 1 Olympic & Invited Classes event is being hosted by Woollahra Sailing Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club.
Racing at the OAMPS SIR continues tomorrow starting from 10.00am, weather permitting.
by Di Pearson
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