While different storms rage elsewhere in the sailing world, for the second day running, no racing was possible at the 2021 Finn Gold Cup after offshore Atlantic storms brought very unstable conditions to Porto.
It wasn’t for lack of trying. After more than four hours trying to get a start away on the third day, the race team had to contend with 120-degree shifts, huge waves, waterspouts, hail storms, and wind ranging from 3-33 knots.
However, with a deadline to be back in the harbour before the ebb tide kicked in, the fleet was ultimately sent ashore with no more races on the board.
The course and marks were moved more than a dozen times with more than 10 starts attempted, but each time it was abandoned in the final minute and one shortly after the start got away on a huge shift.
It was a long, cold day on the water. Full credit to the Herculean efforts of the race officers and their team to do everything possible to try and get a race away. But sometimes it is not meant to be.
There are two more days left in the Finn Gold Cup, with a maximum six races possible and one more needed to get a valid series. Conditions look set to stabilize, so the fleet is keeping everything crossed ready for Tuesday.
Results so far here: https://proregatta.com/events/162/
Robert Deaves
