Para World Sailing Championship - Lighter conditions challenge sailors

by Megan McKay on 26 May 2016 2016 Para World Sailing Championships - Lighter conditions on the second day of racing at the Delta Lloyd Regatta, incorporating the Para World Sailing Championships, in Medemblik, have mixed up the fleets and challenged sailors.

Australia’s Matt Bugg, sailing in the Paralympic 2.4mR class, is the best-placed Aussie after the second day of racing. Bugg is currently second overall after finishing today’s two races with a third and a 10th. The 2.4mR class were the last to get any racing underway today in the light conditions. Bugg currently trails Frenchman Damien Seguin, who has pulled eight points ahead after two race wins in the heavy conditions yesterday, and then a consistent five & four in today’s two races.

Meanwhile the news wasn’t all-good for Australia’s Skud 18 pairing of Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch. They were called ‘on course side’ at the start of the final race today, picking up maximum points on their scorecard. This followed an eighth placing in the first race of the day, which has slipped the pair back to seventh overall. However, the lighter conditions saw some good results from Australia’s other crew of Ame Barnbrook and Brett Pearce. They are currently lying fifth overall after a consistent sixth and third in today’s two races.

'We’re quite happy with our results so far,” said Barnbrook at the end of racing today. “We’ve been sailing consistently, but we’re not even halfway through the regatta yet. The last two days couldn’t be anymore different – 17 to 20 knots yesterday, but today there was only a maximum of eight knots. The only similarity is the chilly conditions.”

In the Sonar class, Australia’s crew of Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden are currently lying fifth overall. The Aussies had a mixed day, crossing the finish line in 12th in the first race, the composed themselves and came back with a fourth in the second race of the day.

“Racing very tough – the conditions today were very tricky with shifty light winds,” said Harrison at the conclusion of racing. “In the first race we got quite buried off the start line and it was very hard to recover.

“In the second race we had a much better start and we enjoyed it a lot more.”

In Olympic classes, Australia’s Luke Elliott is currently fourth overall, after scoring a sixth and a seventh in today’s two races.

Racing in Medemblik continues through until Saturday. 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 – fifth

Paralympic Single Person Keelboat – International 2.4mR

• Matt Bugg (TAS/TIS) – AST: 3, 3, 3, 10 – second
• Neil Patterson (TAS/TIS) – 23, 19, 6, 17 – 17th

Paralympic Two Person Keelboat – Skud 18

• Ame Barnbrook (NSW/NSWIS) / Brett Pearce (NSW/NSWIS) – ASS: 5, 5, 6, 3- fifth
• Daniel Fitzgibbon (NSW/NSWIS) / Liesl Tesch (NSW/NSWIS) – AST: 1, 7, 8, OCS – seventh

Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser

• Luke Elliott (WA/WAIS) – ASS: 1, 15, 6, 7 – fourth
• Daniel Self: 27, 26, 31, 36 - 28th

Mens’ Skiff – 49er

• Sam Gilmour and Cameron Seagreen: DNF, DNF, DNF, 19, 21, 22 – 25th