Ian Southworth takes strong lead at J/24 Europeans in Poole 27/9/06

Day two of the J/24 Europeans saw Poole Bay trying to impersonate the Mediterranean, with bright blue skies and hot sun. The down side of this was a rather patchy and fickle wind at the start of the day.

Race 4 started at 1100 in a south-westerly Force 2, however the race was abandoned when no one reached the windward mark within the half hour time limit, the wind slowly becoming the merest zephyr.

The J fleet then had to endure one and a half hours of sunbathing until a breeze started to build at about 1300. In a consistent westerly, Force 2-3 Superliga from Sweden led local boat, Madeline, Hedgehog and J spot from Holland. The light downwind leg and tricky second beat, allowed several boats to make gains. At the finish, Duncan McCarthy’s Madeline won from Ian Southworth in Hedgehog and Jon Powell in Peggy.

Race five started under a Black Flag, with two boats being excluded. In an increasing breeze, Southworth won from Stuart Jardine in Stouche and Superliga from Sweden.

With five races sailed, the series one discard kicks in, and the top five boats are the consistent sailors in the UK J fleet, the first European boats appearing in 7th, 9th and 18th place.

Results (after day 2)
1st Hedgehog, Ian Southworth 5pts
2nd Stouche, Stuart Jardine 19pts
3rd Serco Defence, Bob Turner 22pts
4th Madeleine, Duncan McCarthy 25pts
5th Peggy, Jon Powell 28pts