Strong first day for Australia

by John Roberson on 20 Jan 2006 Australian teams put in a strong performance on the first day of the 2006
Alcoa IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships, with three teams in top
ten positions after two races of the eleven race series.

Jamie Dunross is on the podium, after the huge disappointment of having one
of his crew de-classified the day before the regatta, holding third place
in the three person Sonar fleet.

Also showing flashes of brilliance in the Sonar fleet is Peter Thomson, who
scored a second place in the open race of the event, but struggled home in
13th in the second race, for seventh on the leader board.

In the one person 2.4 Metre fleet, Aaron Hill of Metung Yacht Club ends the
day in seventh place, with his best result a fourth.

At the end of the day, Jamie Dunross of the Royal Perth Yacht Club
commented, 'we got third in the first race, and fifth in the second, I've
just got to learn how to start a bit better, and we could win this
regatta.'

Peter Thomson, also representing the host club, summed up his day, 'we had
a very good first race, ended up second, but we had a breakdown in the
second race unfortunately, but it was a good day's racing.'

This championship is the first qualifying event for the 2008 Paralympic
regatta in Beijing, with the first seven countries in each class gaining a
place in the games.

RESULTS: After 2 races, no discard.

Sonars

1. John Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR 3pts
2. Jens Kroker/Schoenberg/Schuetz GER 7pts
3. Jamie Dunross/Harrison/Martin AUS 8pts

7. Peter Thomson/Conder/Astwood AUS 15 pts
14. Stephen Churm/Power/Cull AUS 27 pts

2.4 Metres

1. Helena Lucas GBR 2pts
2. Bjornar Erikstad NOR 5pts
3. Heiko Kroeger GER 5.5 pts

7. Aaron Hill AUS 18 pts
16. Rachael Cox AUS 31 pts
17. Maryanne Ireland AUS 38 pts