Multihull Cup 2024 graced with great breeze yet again
by Phil Riley 29 Sep 2024 07:17 NZST
27-29 September 2024
The wind took its time to arrive, but excellent racing conditions eventually graced the second day of Multihull Cup 2024 with two races completed.
Early wind conditions of 6-7 knots saw racing initially postponed off the southwest coast of Mallorca, though a mistral in the northwest saw the breeze fill in to reach 14-16 knots by the end of race 1, and up to 18 knots at the end of race 2. Excellent and sunny conditions dominated, with a distant storm staying away.
Saturday's results were also in the mix, with a different winner in each of the windward-leeward races.
Adrian Keller's Irens 78 Allegra again hit their stride in the day's first race to finish just 20 seconds behind Lord Irvine Laidlaw's 80-ft VPLP-custom Highland Fling 18, a margin converted into a 2 minute 15 second victory on corrected time.
The second race of the day saw the tables turned in the increasing breeze with Highland Fling 18 seizing the moment to take a lead sufficient to give her the race 3 win by a margin of over 3 minutes on the water, and 37 seconds once the ORCmh handicap rating correction had been applied.
For Dragon, again the conditions did not play to the considerable strengths of the 60-ft Bañuls Design McConaghy-built Mc2 60 which was unable to get on terms with her two larger rivals in either race. However, her crew's enthusiasm was evidenced by an individual recall in race 3 as they sought to win the start.
Allegra is at the top of the table with 4 points, with Highland Fling 18 a point behind on 5, with Dragon on 9.
"With an exhilarating coastal race yesterday and two competitive windward-leeward races today, we have been able to deliver some great racing for a small but really competitive fleet," said Multihull Cup Event Director Andrea Grimm.
"The owners and crews have been able to enjoy some fantastic racing, and our host marina Port Adriano has, as ever, provided great hospitality and a truly sophisticated setting. It is tight at the top of the table, so there is all to play for on the final day on Sunday."
Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow before the celebratory prize-giving at Port Adriano in the afternoon.
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