Gul Mirror Worlds - Day 1

L-R Esme Shepherd & Max Phypers, Howard Leoto & Shane White, Simon & Tyson Barwood, Gavin & Oliver Cooke, Tom Cosier & Poppy Luxton.

Photo by Lee Whitehead and used with permission.

The Gul Mirror Worlds kicked off in a solid 3-4 from the south, the south west & the west, for the first hour the wind swung wildly as showers, clouds & clear skies rolled through. Evenually the wind settled into the south west, allowing IRO Jeff Martin and his team to set a windward - leeward course (yawn) and get the first race underway. The first attempt  at a start ended in a general recall, but the fleet got away on the second attempt under a 'P' flag.

After their UK Mirror Nationals victory last week, Dave & Imogen Wade from Northampton SC showed the same form and took the first race bullet ahead of 'Platypus' sailed by Simon & Tyson Barwood from the Royal Freshwater Bay YC with 'The Bootle Bumtrinket' sailed by Scartlett Shepherd & Imogen Bellfield from Restronguet SC/Itchenor SC in third.

Race 2 - using a triange - sausage course (hurrah!) got underway at the first attempt, but with individual recalls. A few boats returned and restarted, but the X flag remained flying. Dave & Imogen, Angus & Lou-Lou Hemmings from Stokes Bay SC and Scarlett & Romilly Crago from Looe SC were adjudged OCS, but did not return. By this time the sunny intervals were becoming longer leading to some champagne sailing conditions in the Carrick Roads. 'Wave Catcher Too' sailed by  Cullen & Rowan Hughes from Balmoral SC won the race from Simon & Tyson, with 'Ripples' sailed by Chris & Daisy Fuller from Hayling Island SC 3rd.

Race 3, using the same course, got underway at the first attempt  under a 'P' flag, but with individual recalls. Once again some boats returned and re-started. This time it was 'Va Va Voom' sailed by Tom Cosier & Poppy Luxton from Restronguet SC, 'Rumble Fish' sailed by Alle & Anna Roodbergen from KWVL and 'Greyhound' sailed by Bella Cockwell & Tamsyn Stacey from Restronguet SC who were adjudged OCS. Once again Cullen & Rowan won from Simon & Tyson with Dave & Imogen 3rd.

So at the end of day 1 it's an Aussie 1 - 2 with Paul & Alfie Cullen flying the flag for GBR in 3rd and Dave & Imogen back in 17th, no doubt waiting for the first discard to kick in. Full results here.

Photos of yesterdays practice race and Day 1's action on Photolounge .