Canadian SKUD Team take the lead – Miami World Cup 2015

by Sail Canada on 27 Jan 2015 Day one of Miami World Cup 2015 was a lively one! Fleets that were sent out for morning starts were greeted by dark rolling clouds that opened up to a squall of heavy rain and winds gusting well over 20kts. Sonars, Skuds, 470’s and Lasers were all in survival mode as they hung on for the weather system burst to pass shortly thereafter.

Canadian Paralympic sailors did not waver in the wrath of mother nature with both the Canadian SKUD and Sonar teams battling the elements and their rivals both capturing second place in their first races. In race 2, the Canadian Sonar team (Tingley/Lutes/Campbell) replicated their first race, sitting in second overall behind the GBR team of Robertson/Stodel/Thomas. Canadian SKUD partners McRoberts/Gay found themselves in an extremely tight battle with GBR Rickham/Birrell and outran them on the last beat securing the overall lead. 'Our speed is on point. We have been working really hard on that and it finally paid off,' exclaimed Jackie Gay. 'Great way to start off our regatta and gives us the confidence we need going into the rest of the week.'

The 2.4mR fleet were held ashore and finally sent out to complete one race. Canada’s Allan Leibel is currently in eighth while Helena Lucas (GBR) takes the early lead.

Winds built back up into the mid 20’s through the late afternoon challenging the fleets on several courses including the FX & Nacra 17. 49er fleets went out ahead of the FX completing 3 races while the FX fleets were annihilated by the breeze later that day with only 7 of the 40 boat fleet completed their one race. Nacra fleets also suffered some carnage on their course with more than half the fleet retiring after the first race. Canadian 470 Saunders team broke their main halyard forcing their early retirement on the day.

The heavyweight sailors survived the elements with 2 races in the books. Greg Douglas sits in ninth overall in the Finn with a 10, 10 on the day. GBR’s Giles Scott holds the lead with two unwavering bullets in the Finn class.

Top Canadian Laser on the day was Tom Ramshaw in 13th overall. Radial fleets were out until sunset this evening playing in the big breeze and choppy waves. Results were not available for the Laser Radial at the time of publication. A Laser Radial report will follow on the ISAF Sailing World Cup website here -http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/home.php

The breeze will hold a little less kick tomorrow but will offer sailors an exciting second day of sailing. A full schedule of racing continues tomorrow starting at 1000am at the Miami World Results