Good start for Australians at Laser 4.7 World Youth Championships

by Pru Bennett on 3 Apr 2010 The Australian Team at the 2010 Laser 4.7 World Youth Championships had a solid start on Day 1. Coach, Traks Gordon was pleased with yesterday's results and said 'Today laid the foundations of solid performance from all the Aussie sailors. There is a long way to go and the week will be a true physical and mental endurance test in trying conditions.'

A team of ten aged between 13 and 17 are representing Australia at the laser 4.7 World Youth Championships at Pattaya, Thailand.

The team arrived on 27th March and began a three day on-water training camp with coach, Traks Gordon.

A key highlight of the regatta was the opening ceremony complete with Thai elephant.

Conditions have been generally light with winds between 8 and 12 knots and on occasions reaching 15 knots. The heat is something that all competitors have had to contend with. The temperature in Pattaya has been around 36 degrees and is expected to reach 40 degrees on day 2 of racing. To match the heat, the humidity is around 90 percent.

The championships began on 2 April in 8 to 14 knots of breeze. In Race 1 Ben Walkemeyer was sixth in the under 18 boys and Milly Bennett was eighth in the girls under 18. In Race, 2 Ella and Louise Evans sailed well in slightly windier conditions achieving second and fifth respectively in the girls under 18. Mark Spearman achieved a fourth placing in the under 16 mixed division. On a consistency basis, Ashlie Lane did well achieving a 10th and sixth and is placed fifth overall in the girls under 18 division.

Traks Gordon was pleased with yesterday's results and said 'Today laid the foundations of solid performance from all the Aussie sailors. There is a long way to go and the week will be a true physical and mental endurance test in trying conditions.'

Overall a good day for the team and they are all looking forward to consolidating on yesterday's good start.

For results details see www.varuna.org