Day 3 conditions take their toll at SIRS

by Di Pearson on 17 Dec 2007 Conditions took their toll on competitors at the Olympic class Sydney International Regatta on Sydney Harbour today as two competitors were carted off to hospital; one with a suspected broken ankle, another with a nasty cut to his forehead, not to mention the numerous breakages amongst gear on boats.

Gavin Davies, from Shell Cove south of Wollongong, was skippering his Tornado out to the start of the race when the catamaran turned over and Davies got his foot caught in a strap. The ankle went one way, his body the other.

Crew Kez Stevens stood by his skipper who was laying on the trampoline of the cat. A stoic Davies said: 'I’ve only been back in Australia four months and thought it would be good to come and do this regatta.' Ambulance officers arrived and treated Davies before taking him to hospital.

In an earlier incident, 29er Youth skipper, Nick Brunning, arrived ashore with a gash in his forehead and swelling already in evidence after being hit with the boom on his boat. He too was treated and taken to hospital. Both he and Davies will be fine.

The day started well enough with a steady southerly breeze, but winds coming from the south and sou-west increased once racing was under way, with strong winds in the 25 knot range and big gusts hitting the various Olympic and Youth classes sailing at the Yachting NSW organised event.

As winds increased, event officials at Woollahra Sailing Club abandoned the Youth 4.7 Laser races for the day. All other classes got racing in; some of the Olympic classes are still on the water, as winds dropped to the 20 knot range just after 2.00pm today.

During racing, boats capsized all over their various courses, Nathan Outteridge, Australian 49er champion skipper said: In our third race, only five boats were upright on the start line; the rest were upside down in the water. It was a constant 25 knots in that third race, too much for the 49ers.'

Outteridge and his crew Ben Austin fought hard in the three races sailed today to take the series lead by a slim one point margin from yesterday’s leaders, Jorge Lima/Francisco Andrade (POR) after scoring 2-4-2 results. Third place is held down by consistent Brit’s Paul Campbell-James/Mark Asquith.

The first gear breakage of the day was the American 49er crew of Jonny Goldsberry and Charlie Smythe. 'It was carnage out there man,' said Goldsberry from San Francisco.

'We busted a few things. The main problem was our jib track. The block jumped out of the track so we couldn’t tack. It’s blowing hard out there.'

Sailing a chartered boat here in Sydney, the two qualified sixth in the USA Olympic trials. They are one of four American crew’s headed to Sail Melbourne in early January for the 49er worlds.

'Sailing on your harbour is quite an experience,' said Goldsberry, 'all the traffic and the stiff winds, but we’re having a blast,' he said. The two will repair their boat in time for tomorrow’s final races.

Laser Radial Women’s series leader Sarah Blanck (AUS) came ashore from racing weary but happy. With a solid eight point to her nearest rival, Marit Bouwmeester (NED) and a further two points to Jo Aleh (NZL), the Australian says: 'I’m very happy. It was hard work out there today – I earned my money.'

Blanck has the coaching services of 2006 Laser World Champion and bronze medallist from Sydney 2000, Michael Blackburn. 'Michael’s teaching me heaps. I’m very happy with my performance so far. I had a big think about what I wanted to achieve after being selected to the Australian team for Beijing and I’m back on track and feeling confident,' she said.

The best of the British girls is Laura Baldwin in fourth place and Olympic hopeful Lizzie Vickers in fifth place, 17 points behind Blanck with a race drop included.

Woollahra Sailing Club is hosting the four day event on courses all over the Harbour. The event finishes tomorrow.

For results www.nsw.yachting.org.au/ and click on SIRS link.