The brother-sister team from Slovenia, Peter Lin Janezic and Leo Dora Janezic, took the overall lead in the 29er category on the opening day of the Raymond-India international regatta in the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai harbour here on Wednesday.
It was a tough, long and hot day for both the sailors and race officials.
The wind shifted wildly and the speed dropped to around 2 knots for a period before dying completely by around 3.30 p.m. after swinging 180 degrees from South to North.
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The wind had started at around seven knots but never went beyond 10 knots. It dropped sharply as the afternoon progressed. At the end of the day, only one race could be held in the Optimist and the Laser classes but the Race Committee managed two races for the faster 29ers. The Optimists had the toughest day with their races abandoned twice. First, they were nearly halfway through their course when the wind dropped to two knots. Then, at the first windward mark, when the wind did an about turn.
India came up with a good showing in the Laser 4.7 class claiming all three top positions in the only race for this category on day one. The contest was won by Nicholas from TNSA. Nethra Kumanan, also from TNSA, topped among the girls.
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Laser 4.7: Race 1: 1. Nicholas Patrick (India); 2. Dheer Singhi (India); 3. Anand Thakur (India).
29er: Race 1: 1. Peter Lin Janezic / Leo Dora Janezic (Slovenia); 2. K.C. Ganapathy / Varun Thakkar (India); 3. Mimi Khazindar / Ben Batten (USA / UK).
Race 2: 1. Peter Lin Janezic / Leo Dora Janezic; 2. K.C. Ganapathy / Varun Thakkar; 3. Markus Somerville / Isaac McHardie (New Zealand).
Overall: Peter Lin Janezic / Leo Dora Janezic 2 points; 2. K C Ganapathy / Varun Thakkar 4; 3. Markus Somerville / Isaac McHardie 9.