Laser Class World Championships - Ryan Palk and Mitch Kennedy ready

by Tracey Johnstone on 26 Jun 2015 Ryan Palk and Mitch Kennedy have now moved onto Ontario, Canada, for the Laser Class World Championships which start on June 29.

Both Sunshine Coast youth sailors competed earlier this month in the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Weymouth, England, finishing down the list in the limited entry event.

Kennedy was very disappointed with his 35th place. “To be completely honest, I’m not yet satisfied with my recent results. Weymouth was a bit off right from the start and Holland was good, but definitely could have been better. I know I've got the skills to be towards the front, I just need to make less mistakes throughout the races. One mistake and you can lose the whole fleet,” Kennedy said.

He’s now had a week’s break to rest and reflect on how he will approach the World Championships. “The trip here has left me feeling fresh and ready to get into the pre-regatta training. We got our charter boats earlier this week which has given me a good week to get used to the variety of conditions expected on Lake Ontario as well as the new equipment. With the lake being so large it seems as though anything could and will happen. The last two days have been like glass, perfect for skurfing so fingers crossed we get some wind. I'm feeling fit and strong, just need to get that killer attitude firing,” Kennedy added.

In China earlier this week the Noosa Yacht & Rowing Team of Paul Blundell, Hayden Johnson and Klade Hauschildt with friend Seddon Cripps won the inaugural Xiangjiang Cup International Regatta in Changsha.

The team were racing the two-day regatta on FarEast 28Rs on the river of the inland city against teams from eight other nations.

Back in Australia, all the hard work of preparing a full-proof navigation plan to get the 66-foot Alive from Brisbane to Noumea in handicap winning form went over the side when navigator David Turton and his fellow crew turned the boat around and headed for home soon after the race started last Saturday.

“We had a problem from the start, but decided to sail out of the bay to see if we could troubleshoot the issue and get it fixed. It was better, but not enough to secure the rig 100 per cent to cross an ocean. It would have been a long way to get back without a mast,” Turton said.