Mark Orams maintains his small lead at World Laser Master Championships
Mark Orams sailing at the 2007 Manly Icebreaker, maintained his lead in the Radial Masters fleet
The much prayed for Sea Breeze arrived today at Terrigal but still only reached 10-12 knots for the Radial fleet. The Standard fleet, who sailed second today, enjoyed the stronger breeze that built over the afternoon. All the sailors where happier today as they could actually hike for parts of the races and start to surf some of the big swells. The Standard fleets saw a few capsizes on the runs in the stronger conditions.
In the Apprentice Radials, Edmund Tam dropped away today in the stronger conditions, with Scott Leigh & Mike Pasco exchanging 4ths & 7ths to lie 4th & 5th overall but well out the hunt for a World Title. Mark Orams had another big day battling defending champion Greg Adams AUS & Steve Cockerill GBR in the Radial Masters. Mark made sure that he was always sailing close to his main rivals and Glen Sowry took the opportunity to post his first win of the Regatta and move up to 7th overall. Mark though achieved his aim today and maintained his 5 point lead over Cockerill and extended his lead over Adams to 10 points. Only 2 races left and Mark is the only Kiwi with a good chance of winning a world Title. In the Radial Grand Master Richard Ineson dropped away today with a 16th & 19th. Colin Maddren & Jim Quinn had 3rd's today to move up the leader board in the Radial Great Grand Masters.
NZL's Gill Waiting will win the Women's Grand Master Title and is also doing well against her male competitors
The Standard Fleets had good breeze today but none of the Kiwi sailors could find the form needed to put pressure on the leaders. In the Apprentice fleet Rohan Lord had a 2 & 5 while leader and defending champion Brett Beyer from AUS had 1 and 2 moving further ahead of Rohan. In the Masters Murray Thom had a drop and 4th to maintain his 7th position but well behind the leaders. In the Master silver fleet Don Salthouse had a 1 & 2 to lead the Silver Fleet. Bob Blakey is the best of the Kiwi in the Grand Masters but also well away from the leaders.