Aussies well-positioned going into final day of Para Worlds

by Megan McKay on 28 May 2016 2016 Para Sailing World Championships - The penultimate day of the 2016 Delta Lloyd Regatta and the 2016 Para Sailing World Championships in Medemblik brought the best conditions of the week with an onshore breeze building through the day to 12-16 knots.

The sunny skies brought strong competition across all classes, and there are several Australians well-positioned for podium finishes following tomorrow’s final two races.

In the Skud 18, the defending champions, Australia’s Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch are second overall after a second and a third in today’s two races.

'The conditions were pretty challenging today, with big chop and light winds which made it hard for the skuds to get through the waves,” said Geoff Woolley, Head Coach of the Skud 18s. “The Polish team sailed another fantastic day with wins in both races and so have basically won the regatta, pending tomorrows results.”

Australia’s other crew in the Skud 18, Ame Barnbrook and Brett Pearce had a tough time in the choppy water today and finished the two races in eighth and ninth. They are currently sixth overall.

In the Paralympic 2.4mR class, Australia’s Matt Bugg is currently in third overall. He had an eighth and a third in today’s two races, and is only two points behind the second placed, Damien Seguin of France, setting up a showdown tomorrow.

“The wind was quite steady today and the water state was very lumpy,” said 2.4mR coach Richard Scarr. “There were not many passing lanes up wind and the boys’ boat speed was a stand out today. We had some cracking starts by Matt and Neil (Patterson), which allowed them to go where they wanted on the course.

“Points wise tomorrow there is plenty to play for with two races remaining.”

In the Sonar class, Australia’s crew of Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden followed up their fifth in the first race of the day, with a win in the second. Today’s good results move them up into third overall as well. The Aussies are only one point behind the second placed team from Great Britain, with the Germans in fourth place only two points behind the Aussies.

'The Sonar fleet is so close,” said coach Grant Alderson. “The front of the fleet changes constantly and there are only a few boat lengths between all the boats in the top group. The Aussie team had a solid day with a fifth and a first. This keeps them in third overall but it's really tight in the top five. With two more races to go it's still anyone's regatta.'

In Olympic classes, Australia’s Luke Elliott is currently third overall, after scoring a ninth and a second in today’s two races.

Two races remain in the Paralympic classes, with a medal race remaining in the Olympic classes. The races can be followed live through the event website.

Results for the Australian Sailing Team and Squad at the conclusion of day two, Delta Lloyd Regatta:

Paralympic Three Person Keelboat – Sonar

• Colin Harrison (WA/WAIS), Jonathan Harris (NSW/NSWIS) and Russell Boaden (WA/WAIS) – AST: 3, 2, (12), 4, 6, 3, 5, 1 – third

Paralympic Single Person Keelboat – International 2.4mR

• Matt Bugg (TAS/TIS) – AST: 3, 3, 3, (10), 4, 4, 8,4, – third
• Neil Patterson (TAS/TIS) – (23), 19, 6, 17, 20, 20, 12, 8 – 16th

Paralympic Two Person Keelboat – Skud 18

• Daniel Fitzgibbon (NSW/NSWIS) / Liesl Tesch (NSW/NSWIS) – AST: 1, 7, 8, (OCS), 1, 2, 2, 3 – second
• Ame Barnbrook (NSW/NSWIS) / Brett Pearce (NSW/NSWIS) – ASS: 5, 5, (6), 3, 4, 3, 8, 9 - sixth

Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser

• Luke Elliott (WA/WAIS) – ASS: 1, 15, 6, 7, (16), 3 , 9, 2– third
• Daniel Self: 27, 26, 31, 36, 41, 41, 19, (44) - 36th

Mens’ Skiff – 49er

• Sam Gilmour and Cameron Seagreen: (DNF), DNF, DNF, DNI, 21, 22, 27, 19, 20, 16, 20, 18 – 25th