Report by www.techno293worldchampionship.org: Broken masts, cracked boards, and whipping winds highlighted a dramatic third day of racing at the 2011 Techno World Championships.

The day came in like a lamb and went out like a lion as the San Francisco fog bank upped the game today hurling consistent 20-22knot winds at the fleet of competitors. This is spirited bunch however and they came ready for action taking all San Francisco could throw at them and coming back for more. Blue skies and mild 15-20mph winds greeted the sailors as they got ready for the day’s action. The flood tide was once again in play and this time, like a tractor beam, it sucked the marine layer in through the Golden Gate dropping temperatures and increasing wind speeds to 22 knots and beyond by the midpoint of the day’s first racing action.

The day’s agenda called for three races to be sailed comprising the 6th, 7th , and 8th races of the regatta and by now fitness was beginning to play a factor after three days of continuous racing in solid 20+mph winds.

Britain’s Emma Wilson (GBR 961) is still holding a commanding lead in the Girl’s Under 15 division but do not count out Israeli Shai Blank (ISR 951). Wilson’s Day 3 scoring line of 1-2-2 showed she has the consistency she needs put the world title in the bank however Blank’s up and down day finished on a high note by taking the final race win and left her in contention. Emily Hall (GBR 714) is holding tough in third place but a special note has to be made for Eugenia Bologna (ITA 170) of Italy who was relishing the higher winds posting her best result of the regatta by winning outright race 2 on the day. The day wrapped with Wilson on top, Blank in second, and Hall in third.

Team Great Britain had a mixed day on the water in the boys under 17 fleet and had to deal with some severe adversity on the day. Kieran Martin (GBR 926) however was able to overcome the adversity to shine. The big winds and rough waters took their toll on Martin’s board completely blowing out his fin box. Ever the competitor Martin somehow managed to sail on to a second place finish despite the flopping fin. The race committee was quick to act and was able to immediately secure Martin a new board so he could continue on unimpaired. Adam Purcell (GBR 62) had a subpar day by Adam Purcell standards with a 4-4-5 scoring line but managed to continue to hold on to the overall lead. Matthijs van ‘t Hoff (NED 216) suffered a bout of inconsistency matching his first and second place finishes in race 2 and 3 with at 15th place finish in race one that sent him off the podium on the day as Hubert Aupinel (FRA 651) moved up and now sits in third place overall behind Purcell and Martin.

American Marion Lepert (USA 143) stumbled in the first race of the day but picked herself up to remain the favorite for top honors in the Under 17 girls division. Lepert jumped out to a lead in the day’s first race but decided to sail the upwind leg with her centerboard up thinking it was windy enough to get by on fin alone. The decision was disastrous however as the rest of the fleet, center board down, rolled over top of Lepert sending her to a 13th place finish, her worst by far of the regatta. Champions however are not made in a single race and Lepert dusted herself off to finish strong and continues to lead the overall results. Saskia Sills (GBR 956) picked a good day to shine and posted a 1-2-2 scoring line that served notice to Lepert she had better stay on her A game or be prepared to settle for second place. Imogen Sills (GBR 561), Saskia’s twin sister, had her best day on the water as well including an overall race win in race 2 on the day that left her in third place overall. A quick note has to mention the performance of Italian Marta Maggetti who rocked the fleet with a second place overall finish in the first race of the day to send herself moving up the leader board. Maggetti now sits in sixth overall and has shown that if the winds lighten up on any given day she could be on top of the fleet.

The action in the Under 15 boy’s fleet saw Italian Mattia Onali (ITA 134) put a vice like grip on the world title as he swept all three race wins on the day. Artiom Javadav (BLR 766) moved up the ladder to secure second place. Mikita Tsirkun (BLR 714) continued to move down the rankings but ever so slightly as he ended the day tied with Brenno Francioli (BRA 70). Don’t count out Italy’s Marco Ettore (ITA 3) who is lingering only one point out of striking distance of the podium and has sailed exceptionally consistent all three days of the regatta.

We mentioned Antoine Albeau in yesterday’s report and apparently Frenchmen Julien Bouyer (FRA 192) was listening. Bouyer had his best day on the water yet and managed to snatch the overall lead from Alejandro Monllor (PUR 1) in the Open Division. Monllor’s inconsistent 5-1-5 scoring line cost him the regatta lead. We also mentioned yesterday you had better watch Bouyer’s French Teammate, Marc Lavaud (FRA 434), and we were right. Lavaud had his best day of the regatta knocking Japan’s Jun Ogawa (JPN 116) off the podium. Bouyer, Monllor, and Lavaud now sit 1,2,3 respectively with 2 days of competition left.

Fort the Raceboard Switzerland’s Vincent Huegenin showed he can be beat as Argentinean Fernando Consorte (ARG 155) knocked out his second bullet of the regatta in race 2. With that said it’s Huegenin’s title to lose at this point and Consorte will need some charity from Huegenin if he has any hope of overtaking him in the regattas final two days. Jean Asia (FRA 171) of France sits in third and baring a major shakeup that should be your final three finishing order.

Racing continues Saturday July 23rd with a likely 2 races on the agenda. The action will once again be centered on the San Francisco City Front with prime viewing at Crissy Field’s East Beach with a first possible start at 11am.

Complete Results: www.sailingresults.net

Day 3 Photo Gallery: www.waterhound.smugmug.com

Day 3 Photos Shawn Davis: www.picyourshot.com http://mpora.com/videos/OAskKlxcD