Fitzgibbon and Pegan share lead on first day of IFDS Worlds

by Di Pearson on 18 Jan 2004 Twenty two contestants hit the water for the first day of racing on Port Phillip Bay off Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron today in the IFDS Worlds. Two races in each Fleet, A and B will be held each day starting at 11.00am and 2.00pm local time over the next few days.

In Fleet A, today’s two heats got underway at 11.00am and were won by 27 year old Queenslander Daniel Fitzgibbon (AUS). A quadriplegic since an accident in Sydney in 1997, Fitzgibbon was a top class sailor before his accident, having won two State titles in the 420 class.

Sailing the Chris Mitchell designed Access Liberty, the designated boat for this event, Bento Amaral (POR) finished second in Race 1, with South Australian Andrew Hartley third. In Race 2, it was Mat Brown (W.A.) in second and Colin Johanson (Vic) in third place.

In Fleet B today, Zoltan Pegan (NSW), won both races from Peter Thompson (ACT). This was the first time Thompson had set foot in the Liberty, he arrived after finishing second in the 2.4mR class at the Olympic and Invited classes at Sandringham Yacht Club and is set to represent Australia at the Paralympic Games later this year.

Maryanne Ireland (NSW) finished third in Race 1. She only took up sailing six years ago and is the only female to figure in a top three place today. Craig Clarke (S.A.) took second place in Race 2.

These results put Fitzgibbon and Pegan, a paraplegic after an aircraft accident, in a tie for first place. The pair led their races for most of the day.

Fleet A, mostly made up of quadriplegics, will commence racing each day at 11.00am, while Fleet B, with lesser problems, start their races at 2.00pm local time.

The World Championship will go to the competitor with the lowest point score from the two Fleets, A and B, at the end of the eight race series, which includes one race drop if at least five races are sailed.

Today’s races were sailed in near-perfect conditions, 12-15 knots, flat water and sunny blue skies.

The International Foundation for Disabled Sailing Single Person Dinghy 2004 World Championships (or IFDS Dinghy Worlds) will provide an opportunity to show-case to the world an international standard regatta for people with high level disability.

Conducted by Yachting Victoria as part of the Sail Melbourne 2004 International Regatta, the event is open to sailors with an IFDS 1 or 2 Functional Classification. Participants will include sailors with profound physical disabilities such as paraplegia and quadriplegia.

Racing continues on Port Phillip Bay tomorrow.

For results, photos and further information:

www.sailmelbourne.com.au