Eighth A-Cat Worlds win for Ashby

Tricky final day's racing off Takapuna, NZ

The final day of racing scheduled in the A Class Catamaran World Championship, held in Takapuna, New Zealand, was basically a drifter.

There was one race for the final day, but after waiting on the water for an hour the committee called the boats back to the beach to wait for some breeze.

As seems to be always the case, once the boats hit the beach the fingers of breeze extended towards the shore, finally allowing enough wind to convince the race committee to call for a start.

The sailors were ready and charged for the final race, with the eagerness causing more than half the fleet to be over the line early; triggering a recall. The second start saw the black flag flying, leaving no room for error. The fleet made a more cautious start toward the pin end, sailing out toward the left hand side of the course.

Ashby was among the leaders off the line followed by Tuke and Burling looking for wind in toward the shore before heading out to the middle of the course.

By the top mark Ashby had secured the lead. At the first bottom mark, it was still Ashby followed by Peter Melvin and Blair Tuke. Most of the fleet appeared to favour the shore and left side of the course following Glenn Ashby. Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Nathan Outteridge took the right hand side of the course on the final beat hoping for a wind shift to allow them to make a significant gain on Glenn Ashby. The wind shifted some 120° and in the end the right paid dividends, compressing the frontrunners, and giving many a chance by the final top mark. Glenn Ashby had a bad gybe at the top mark and left the door open for Nathan Outteridge to pass on the run home.

Nathan Outerridge crossed ahead of Glenn Ashby from Ray Davies and Blair Tuke. Outerridge had built his reputation for being a master in light conditions and displayed his immense talent by foiling across the line to a round of Australian cheering.

The final race results do little to upset the leaderboard, and if anything go on to cement the three top racers in their podium places. The 2014 A-Class World Champion is Glenn Ashby (AUS), second is Blair Tuke (NZL) with Peter Burling (NZL) in third.

Most notable perhaps is the fact that the top four places are all members of the America’s cup syndicate Emirates Team New Zealand.

Glen Ashby said: “It’s one from the best world championships I’ve been to from the point of view of all the new technology introduced to the class and the ideas from people from all over the world here at the regatta.”

Final results here