Moths fly at Olympic venue championships

by Fast Track on 16 Jul 2008
Hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, host venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing events, the CST Composites 2008 Moth World Championships drew to a close last Friday - 11 July, 2008.

After a challenging week for the race organisers due to strong winds, 95 competing moth sailors were pleased to see seven races sailed, allowing for one discard.

The Australian competitor, John Harris secured victory with one race to spare, a third place was his lowest result, making him a very clear winner. John started Moth sailing two years ago and is now king of the dinghy foiling world, with the 2009 World Championships in August next year.

In a diverse fleet spanning in age range from 17 to 65 years old, the event saw five female sailors taking part including three British ladies, one Swiss and one Australian, Sam England who commented,

‘It’s a physical boat to sail, but heaps of fun. Both the sailing and the social aspect of the class are better than most classes, and as long as you’re willing to put time in, it’s a great class for female sailors because you don’t need to be heavy, just fit and have the skills’.

Some of the ladies race with cut down sails in the heavier winds, Katherine Knight, GBR races with a 7 square metre KA sail ideal for the conditions experienced last week’.

Graham Vials was the highest placed Brit at the event finishing safely inside the top ten in seventh position. Based in the UK Graham has raced and trained out of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on numerous occasions during youth events right up to Olympic trials.

Report/Results here - http://www.sail-world.com/UK/Aussie-clean-sweep-at-Moth-World-Championships/46345