Australia's Casey on fire in Kiel Week Lasers

by Rob Kothe on 30 Jun 2002 Australia's Olympic Squad member, 24 year old Brendan Casey is currently second in th Kiel Week Laser event, behind British sailor Paul Goodison. Belgian Phillipe Bergmans and Sweden's Dan Birgmark tied for fourth place.

Casey has had three wins and a second and third and is the only sailor likely to challenge World second ranked Goodison for the title.

A former AIS squad member, from Paradise Waters on the Gold Coast he finished 23rd in this same event last year.

Currently ranked 22nd in the world, Casey is running into form, having finished 8th in the Hyeres regatta last month. While Casey finished third behind Goodison at last December's Sydney International regatta, his current position in this highly competitive Keil Week field will provide him with considerable confidence going into the World Sailing Games.

Other Australians in the Gold fleet are Jonathan Holroyd now in 14th place and current Australian National Laser Champion Ben Lamb is 45th.

There is only one more days racing in the Kiel Regatta which has been buffetted by strong winds with many race abandonnments.

Full results at www.kielerwoche.de