IFDS World Sailing Championships - World champions crowned in Kinsale

by Rachel Solon on 31 Aug 2013 At the IFDS World Championship, three new Paralympic World Champions have been crowned today in Kinsale. In the three-man Sonar class it was Frenchman Bruno Jourdren and his crew Eric Flageul and Nicolas Vimont-Vicary who emerged victorious. In the two-man Skud 18 fleet Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell from the British Sailing Team who deservedly took the honours while Heiko Kroger from Germany scooped gold in the largest of the fleets; the 2.4mR class.

Racing began this morning at 11am in 12 knots but with poor visibility. Luckily the mist soon lifted, the clouds parted and the Sonar class sailed three races while the Skud and 2.4mRs completed two successful races each.

Bruno Jourdren and his crew proved unstoppable in the Sonar fleet. They led the regatta from the first day’s racing and never relinquished pole position. Today was yet another successful day for the trio who finished second and fourth in the first two races and then won the final race and the overall championship with an impressive 13 point lead. Udo Hessels from the Netherlands sailed consistently for the nine race regatta notching up six top three finishes including two bullets. He and his crew created a substantial 11 point gap between themselves and their Australian rivals to take the silver. Also sailing well and securing all top 10 results for the duration, Colin Harrison from Australia claims the bronze. Providence Team IRL Paralympic sailor John Twomey and his crew Ian Costello and Anthony Hegarty were the best of the Irish finishing in ninth place.

In the Skud 18 fleet Alexandra Rickham from the UK and her crew Niki Birrell were the runaway winners. They won both of their two races today bringing their total race wins to six out of seven. This left Italy’s Marco Gualandris and Canadian John McRoberts to battle it out for the silver and bronze medals. Throughout the week these opposing sailors have been jostling back and forth, both never finishing a race outside of the top three. But in Race 6 it was Marco Gualandris who finished ahead of John McRoberts giving him a healthy four point cushion. Although John McRoberts went on to beat Marco Gualandris in the final race, it wasn’t enough and so he returns to Canada with the bronze medal while Italy claimed the silver.

The seventh and final race for the 2.4mR class this afternoon was thrilling. Heiko Kroger from Germany and Guus Bijlard from the Netherlands were tied on equal points at the top of the 45 boat fleet and only four points behind them was Damien Seguin from France. The prestigious world Paralympic title came down to this final race. The three sailors were neck and neck, chasing each other ferociously around the course. But ultimately it was Guus Bijlard who just pipped Heiko Kroger to the finish line and to the title. Damien Seguin sailed in behind for a third in the race and also in the championship.

Sonar Class

Place	Sail No.	Helm	Country	Series Points	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9
1	FRA840	Bruno Jourden	France	14	1	(5)	2	1	1	2	2	4	1
2	NED1	Udo Hessels	The Netherlands	27	3	(19)	3	3	8	1	1	6	2
3	AUS1	Colin Harrison	Australia	38	2	6	1	9	2	(10)	10	2	6

 

 

Skud 18 Class

Place	Sail No.	Helm	Country	Series Points	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7
1	GBR057	Alexandra Rickham	UK	6	1	(3)	1	1	1	1	1
2	ITA054	Marco Gualandris	Italy	12	2	1	2	(3)	2	2	3
3	CAN058	John McRoberts	Canada	15	(3)	2	3	2	3	3	2

 

2.4mR Class

Place	Sail No.	Helm	Country	Series Points	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7
1	NED111	Bijlard Guus	The Netherlands	18	2	1	2	6	6	(46)	1
2	GER1	Heiko Kroger	Germany	19	(9)	5	1	1	7	3	2
3	AUS36	Matt Bugg	Australia	24	11	4	3	(46)	2	1	3

For full results see IFDS Worlds