The second race day continued with two further races at the J/24 European Championship on Lake Balaton. After four races, three Hungarian teams rule the top league. Jukebox is leading with Miklos Rauschenberger at the helm, shadowed by Jenesis, helmed by Balázs Tomai, while Pelle Nera helmed by Farkas Litkey is third. Due to the black flag start rules, yesterday’s favorites, the American Keith Whittemore on Furio and the German Daniel Frost on JJone lost their positions as they haven’t been able to drop their BFDs. The day started out beautifully in 7-9 knots of easterly winds. The first three teams to round the first upwind mark during the third race was German Tom Stryi (LUV), Hungarian Gabor Sallai (iJroncat) and also fellow Hungarian Farkas Litkey (Pelle Nera), keeping their positions until the finish of that race. German Stefan Karsunke on Süllberg finished fourth, while the current overall leader Miklos Rauschenberger on Jukebox crossed the finish line fifth. The middle of the fleet pretty much clustered up due to dropping winds and finished really close to each other so the Race Committee decided to shorten the course on the third and fourth legs. Race 4, the second race of the day, was preceded by an on-water postponement as the wind started shifting and it also dropped well below 5 knots. After a bit of waiting, the regatta moved southwards, a new course was set and racing continued. Excited teams were unable to hold their horses well enough, being Black Flag starts for six teams, including yesterday’s favorites Furio and JJone who were forced to watch the race from the sidelines. Repeated start for Race 4 was clear. The rounding order at the first upwind mark was Jörn Harms on Vitesse, Balazs Tomai on Jenesis and Miklos Rauschenberger with Jukebox. The order pretty much remained the same at the end of the first round at the downwind gate…only Jukebox turned a bit before Jenesis. Miklos Rauschenberger on Jukebox decided to take the left-hand mark and continue upwind on the right, while Tomai on Jenesis opted for the right-hand mark and sailed on the left upwind. The second upwind mark was rounded by Vitesse first, followed by Jenesis, then Fast F. The race was won by Jörn Harms on Vitesse, Jenesis with Balazs Tomai finished second, while the third was taken by a female helm Johanne Maske. Race 5 started in somewhat annoyingly shifty 5-6-knot easterly winds which later completely died, so the race committee decided to abandon the race to the biggest disappointment for leading Keith Whittemore (Furio) and Farkas Litkey (Pelle Nera). After the race, Balazs Tomai admitted that, “We expected to finish in the top 10. We are awaiting further races from the second spot though we are only half-way through with the regatta. This is the second time that I helm a J/24 on such a prestigious regatta. I believe that teamwork is key in this Class.” For more information and complete results, visit http://j24europeans2017.hu/.
Videos:
Opening day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7YmCso-mo8
First Racing day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HT4b1eqop8