International 505 World Championship Racing Cancelled for Day 4

In what is becoming a frustrating pattern, there was no racing on Day 4 of the International 505 World Championship. This time the RC waited until noon to abandon for the day, in the hope that conditions would be reasonable for racing in the afternoon. The RC sent boats out to check wind and sea conditions several times this morning. An early wind check saw readings of 45 knots, this abated to 35 knots at a later check, and then in the late morning the wind was reported to be as low as 15 knots, though with frequent squalls of 25+ knots going through, and with large breaking seas, and poor visibility. Given the conditions, and the offshore breeze, none of the competitors were surprised when racing was again abandoned for the day.

It is now 2:30 and another squall is just going through. The trailer with PCs -- the internet café -- is shaking in the breeze, and the wind is whistling through the masts and shrouds in the dinghy park. Visibility from the club is just good enough to see the breakers crashing on the beach.

We expect to be racing two races a day from now on, in an effort to get in five or six races before the event ends on Friday the 24th. If we do race in very windy and/or wavy conditions, we will probably be racing on the same course as the Flying Dutchman, so that rescue boats can be concentrated on the one course.