Today was the final day of 2010 PUMA Moth Worlds.  The Race Committee was forced with an early onshore postponement for lack of wind.  After a morning on shore, the breeze in Dubai filled in nicely to get Race 13 off at 12:45 local with a reported wind of 11 knots.

Simon Payne led the fleet going into the day. Being the last day of racing, with everything on the line, we saw an aggressive start from the fleet; it appeared that a slew of boats could have been over but only one recorded OCS.

Day seven showed the fleet the biggest breeze of the event. Bora Gulari (2009 World Champion, USA) won the pin at the start, showing he still has what it takes.  Gulari’s start resulted in him winning the first race of the day. Simon Payne (GBR) had a disappointing first race, opening the narrow gap for Brad Funk (USA) or Andrew McDougall (AUS) to make something happen in the final race, Race 14.  Going into race 14 with a bad race, Payne felt the pressure.  “When it dawned on me that I hadn’t actually won, I put the hammer down” said Payne

Race 14 brought a steady 10 knots of breeze. Fighting a battle for the top spot, Payne was able to stay in the top five, clinching the 2010 PUMA Moth World Championship.  Payne’s victory was more than he expected from the event; “I didn’t think I had a chance here, I just came to see my mates.”

McDougall, with his experience, knew what he needed to accomplish to bump him into the number two spot.  Winning race 14, McDougall put six boats in between himself and Brad Funk, who was second on the leader board.  “In many races I made small mistakes,” sail McDougall, “but in the last one I put it all together, I knew I had to get a first in the last race to break the tie with Brad.”  The distance was enough to create a tie at 42 points, and having won the final race McDougall won the tiebreaker with five first place finishes in the regatta.

“As a laser sailor the moth is the most exciting class to jump into,” said Funk.  “You can sail the Moth for a lifetime and never get it all perfected, there are just so many little things you can change and tweak.”   Funk, who is relatively new to the Moth class improved on his 2009 eighth place world finish.

PRO David Campbell-James has been impressed and challenged by the Moth class.  “The grand prix style racing was fantastic and exciting,” said Campbell-James.   ”The difference in speed between the boats creates a challenge as how to be a good PRO and create fair racing for all.  I have been impressed with our gracious host the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club and all they have organized here for us and all the sailors, including a slew of volunteers.”

The top five finishers for 2010 PUMA Moth Worlds are:
1. Simon Payne (GBR)
2. Andrew “Amac” McDougall (AUS)
3. Brad Funk (USA)
4. Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI)
5. Dalton Bergan (USA)

Moth Worlds 2011 will be held in Belmont Bay, Australia in February 2011.

Be sure to check out PUMA Moth Worlds Anarchy Special Report for a live post-racing cocktail hour with the top five finishers.

Time: 1630 local/1230 GMT/0730 EST/0430 PST

Where: PUMA Moth Worlds Anarchy Special Report website.  Click here.

With a light start to day 5 of racing the postponed race 10 took place after a short delay at 14.00.  The wind was holding a steady 9 knots across the course.  The fleet were obviously keen to start the days racing as many pushed the start too early!  After 1 general recall the race finally got off to a foiling start. Brad lead the fleet for the entire race followed by Simon Payne and Scott Babbage.

The wind dropped for race 11 to 7-8 knots and swung right to a heading of 310 degrees. With an average of 11 minutes per lap AMac and Simon again fought for top position with AMac finally pipping him to post

Race 12 once again saw the eager fleet keen to finish a third race for the day causing another general recall. This time the committee replaced P flag with the Black Flag meaning anyone starting before the gun was penalized with an automatic disqualification. Fortunately the sailors choose to sail with caution allowing the race to get off without further hitches. Simon Payne, Mike Lennon and Brad Funk vied for pole position during the dying late afternoon winds with the American leaving the Brits in his wake.

Overall positions after race 12:

1. Simon Payne
2. Brad Funk
3. Andrew McDougall
4. Arnaud Psarofaghis
5. Dalton Bergan

Three races were held today for the Puma Moth World Championships in more light winds off the coast of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.  Along with most of the competition, UAE resident Glenn Raphael has been surprised by the light conditions this week.  “It’s pretty testing out there.  Most of our training has been in the 12-15 knot range, and we’ve just had very little practice in these conditions,” said Raphael. “Still, I’m having fun and that’s what really matters.”

With only one day remaining,  Simon Payne (GBR) tripled his three point lead from yesterday over Brad Funk (USA). “It’s damned hard work, and I guess I’ve got a good lead but I can’t seem to win a race out there,” said Payne, regarding his performance.  “I’ll look at the board, won’t be doing anything differently, maybe have a few beers, read my book, then go to bed.”

Funk, who earned two come-from-behind, first-place finishes for the day had a 13th in the second race, making Payne’s lead all-but untouchable barring catastrophe.

Andrew McDougall (AUS) continued his strong performance with a decisive victory in race two, lifting him over Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) for the final spot on the podium with just two races left in the 2010 championship.  Psarofaghis had a disappointing performance, his worst of the week, with a 17th and a 15th on Saturday.

Amazingly, the first and third-place racers are among the oldest in the fleet.  Payne (45) explains that “age isn’t a barrier unless you think it is.  You’ve got to stay fit and do your own thing and you can do well,”he said.  “Who says this is a young man’s game?” said McDougall.  “Our average age is 50 years old, and we’re not getting any slower either.”

After making major changes to his boat, top level pro sailor George “Bear” Peet (USA) had his best day of this championship with two solid top ten finishes, but he remained baffled by the conditions.  “There’s no rhyme or reason to the wind.  You can sail 20 degrees higher and faster than a guy 10 feet away from you. It’ll make you go crazy.” With so much experience in sailing other classes he explains that “Moth sailing requires every aspect of your sailing ability to be at the top if you want to do well in this class.  It’s made me so much better in my other sailing.”

In the women’s division, Emma Aspington (SWE) has opened up a 17 point lead over Kirsten Sommer (UAE). As the event has progressed both have gotten quite a bit faster. “This is one of the best regattas I’ve ever been to in any class.  The people are so nice and helpful but it is still extremely competitive,” said Aspinton. These women have been sailing impressively consistently finishing in the middle of the men’s fleet.
Two races are scheduled for Sunday, the final day of the 2010 Puma Moth World Championship.

photo credit: Meredith Block/Sailing Anarchy.

Watch live video from onthewateranarchy on Justin.tv

Andrew “Amac” McDougall’s nine point lead evaporated today in the difficult patchy Dubai breeze of the third day of the PUMA International Moth World Championship. The first race of the day, race five of the prestigious event, was a carbon copy of the final race yesterday, with US Laser sailor Brad Funk scoring a bullet. European Moth Champ Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) scored a second on the same race, and at the end of the day Psarofaghis moved into third place. “Today I lost a few positions I shouldn’t have, but overall I was going pretty fast in some difficult conditions,” the Swiss racer said. Simon Payne captured third in the race.

Seattle, USA skiff sailor Dalton Bergan pulled off the move of the regatta at the exciting start of race six, when he port-tacked the entire fleet – a sailor’s dream at a World Championship. The manuver payed off and guaranteed victory for Bergan. Australian Scott Babbage grabbed second place, with Funk again scoring big with a third. Payne continued his strong performance with a fourth and 2009 World Champ Bora Gulari rounded out the top five.

The last race of the day started in a lighter and dying breeze, with Psarofaghis edging out Brad Funk for the race win after Funk broke his boom vang. Funk also lost a sail control called a camber inducer, greatly reducing the power in his rig. The gear failure cost Brad one point, leaving his just two points from race leader Payne, whose consistency has proved his biggest advantage. “I was good but not great today, not quite as fast as yesterday just before I broke my mast, but then the conditions weren’t quite the same so you have to take that into account,” explained Payne.

Tomorrow is a lay day for the fleet.

Day Two of PUMA International Moth Worlds got to a late start as a foggy haze and light winds lead to a 30 minute postponement onshore. Today was really a pressure game- those who stayed in the pressure were able to get up on their foils and make gains. The fleet had three races today, bringing the total for the event up to four. Races two and three saw light winds and tough foiling conditions. The breeze filled in a bit for race four, allowing the fleet to really get up and moving. The leader board remains relativity unchanged, with Andrew “Amac” McDougall still in the number one spot. After day two, the top five are:

1. Andrew McDougall (AUS)
2. Michael Lennon (GBR)
3. Brad Funk (USA)
4. Scott Babbage (AUS)
5. Chris Graham (UAE)

During the Volvo Ocean Race, we found out that the best way to get our fans involved in all our fun it to show it to them! Whether it’s HD video, photos or great text, we want to keep you all as close to the action as our sailors. And that’s exactly why we’ve partnered with Saling Anarchy’s On-The-Water-Anarchy to bring you PUMA Moth Worlds Anarchy OTWA Forum and PUMA Moth Worlds Anarchy Special Report site.

We’ve got a great team on the ground in Duabi that includes Dr. Clean (for all you anarchy fans out there) and his crew of video and film pros.

photo credits: Meredith Block/On-The-Water Anarchy

Here is the official logo from PUMA International Moth Worlds.

PUMA Sailing welcomed PUMA Moth Worlds to Dubai with a beach party on Friday night.  The Barasti Beach Club was totally decked out in PUMA branding, even one of our PUMA Moths!  Sailors, race officials, media and over 5000 consumers attended the event.

Here are a few pictures from the beach party in Duabi.