Aussie crew hit back to reclaim lead in Hobie 16 in Brazil
by Craig Heydon on 17 Jul 2009
Francesco Porro and Luca Marsaglia representing Italy chase Jason Watherhouse and Lisa Darmanin representing Australia around the windward mark in the Hobie 16 Open Multihull class at the Volvo Youth Worlds David Neale
http://www.volvooceanrace.org
After two days of weather delays and a scheduled lay day sailing has finally got back underway at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships with the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Sailing Team returning to competition well rested and the day’s results have shown that.
Sydney cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin have reclaimed the first position they lost on day two of the regatta and head into the event’s final race in a three way battle for the Gold medal with the Italian and French teams.
Waterhouse, skipper of the Hobie 16, said that they were pleased to finally be back on the water and racing again in Brazil.
“Today we just tried to be consistent out there,” said Waterhouse. “It was a bit nerve racking to be in second for the last couple of days but we’re guaranteed a medal now which is a big relief.”
“There’s one race left for us so we’re going to go out there and do our best to stay ahead of the French and Italian teams and bring home the Gold,” he said.
Darmanin was equally upbeat heading into such an important race.
“There was a lot of time off the water over the last few days and we both wanted to get racing again and get that Gold sticker back,” said Darmanin.
“We had a good day’s racing but so did the French and the Italians so were going to go into the last race and do what we usually do and try and sail quick,” she said.
It was a strong day all round for the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team with Laser Radial girls class competitor Ashley Stoddart also moving up the leader board.
Stoddart finished the day with two third places to move up to sixth overall, while Curtis Skinner has moved up in the boys fleet to 22nd place.
In the 420 boys fleet David Gilmour and James Omay continued their charge up the ladder and are now in eighth place and in the 420 girls fleet Adelaide’s Lauren Thredgold and Megan Soulsby are in seventh.
Australia’s RS:X entrants continue to gain valuable experience in the strong fleets with Joanna Sterling 14th in the girls class and Luke Baillie 21st in the boys class.
To cap off a positive day’s racing Australia has moved up in the Volvo Trophy standings and are now in sixth place.
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