Aussies in medal contention on final day

by Di Pearson on 18 Dec 2007
The final day of Yachting NSW’s Sydney International Regatta and many of the Australian Sailing Team headed to the Beijing Games next year are in contention for medals at this ISAF Grade 1 Olympic class regatta.

A bright sunny day and racing got underway from 10.00am in a shifty 10-12 knot southerly breeze which is expected to increase to 17 during the day. Tornado, Laser and the Youth 420 class left Woollahra Sailing Club to commence racing from 10.00am, the remaining classes set to start their final races from 12.30pm.

Australian sailors are well amongst the action and poised to win gold, silver and bronze. Today’s racing will decide.

Sarah Blanck has a solid lead in the Laser Radial Women’s, Darren Bundock/Glenn Ashby lead the Tornado catamaran class and Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (2007 world champions) lead the 470 Men’s.

Nathan Outteridge/Ben Austin have a one point lead over the Portuguese crew of Jorge Lima/Francisco Andrade in the fast 49er skiff with three races to decide the winner today. 'The Portuguese guys are very solid; everything is riding on today’s three races.'

Jessica Crisp is currently poised to take Silver in the Women’s RS:X sailboard, but with three races remaining, the double Olympian has a big opportunity to make up the three point deficit to leader Jannicke Stalstrom(NOR).

Laser world champion Tom Slingsby’s disqualification from winning Race 1 has left him in a precarious situation. Currently fifth in the series, he will have to pull out all stops to finish in a podium place this afternoon.

In front of Slingsby are four internationals he will have to sail off against at the 2008 Laser Worlds come February in Terrigal to retain his crown: Two Canadians hold down first and second; Michael Leigh and Bernard Luttmer, whilst a pair of Kiwis are third and fourth; Mike Bullot and Andrew Murdoch.