Strong northerly trade winds shut down racing on day four of the Marina Rubicón Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, leaving Takashi Okura's Sled holding a two-point lead over Jean-Luc Petithuguenin's Paprec heading into Saturday's final day.
The 12-boat fleet went afloat for a proposed 1215hrs start to Race 6, but with gusts topping 30 knots the TP52s were sent back to the marina to wait. By mid-afternoon it was clear the strong northerly trade winds were not dropping, and the AP over A flags were flown.
Sled sits on 13 points, two clear of Paprec on 17. Andrea Lacorte's Alkedo Vitamina is a point further back in third on 18, with Shawn and Tina Kang's Alpha+ fourth on 23.
Sled helm Adam Beashel was relaxed about the call to head in. "It is fun to go racing when it is top end conditions but you have to set a limit. It could have been a bit too fruity and there are so many things that could have gone wrong. It can be exciting but it can also prove frustrating if it goes wrong."
He's not writing off the final day. "The forecasts show more of the same but when the sun comes up tomorrow let's see what we get. I don't think I've been to a venue where for seven days every time you put a foot outside the door it is never blowing less than 15 knots."
Racing is scheduled from 1130hrs on Saturday.
Standings after Day 4: 1. Sled (Takashi Okura) 13pts; 2. Paprec (Jean-Luc Petithuguenin) 17; 3. Alkedo Vitamina (Andrea Lacorte) 18; 4. Alpha+ (Shawn & Tina Kang) 23; 5. Platoon Aviation (Harm Müller-Spreer) 31; 6. No Way Back (Pieter Heerema) 33; 7. Trinity Racing (Joakim Sundberg) 35; 8. Alegre (Andy Soriano) 35; 9. Vayu (Whitcraft Family) 43; 10. Provezza (Ergin Imre) 44; 11. Teasing Machine (Eric de Turckheim) 52; 12. Crioula (Eduardo & Renato Plass) 54; 13. Gladiator (Tony Langley) 63.
