Mike Leigh Claims Bronze at Skandia Sail

by Canadian Yachting Association on 16 Aug 2010 The Laser Medal race had Canadian fans up and cheering as David Wright won the race boosting himself to seventh overall while Mike Leigh fought gamely throughout the race leading at times and eventually finishing sixth to secure a Bronze medal in the Skandai Sail for Gold event. This finish combined with performances over the course of the year has also seen Mike finish third overall in the World Cup standings for the year. The race featured a race within the race as Tom Slingsby of AUS and Paul Goodison of GBR tangled with each other throughout the race, Goodison was the only sailor capable of wrestling away Slingsby title and the Aussie was having nothing to do with that eventually sailing Goodison to the back of the fleet before breaking away and closing on the tail enders of the fleet. His score was irrelevant with Goodison a 1/4 leg behind and the Aussie heads into the forth coming World Championships with a Gold Medal in his pocket.

The Paralympic fleets wrapped up yesterday with Canada securing a Bronze Medal in the Skud class - John McRoberts and Brenda Hopkin, while 2008 2.4 mR Gold Medallist Paul Tingley came away with a fourth place finish.

All in all the Skandia event was a solid test for the Canadian squad and has set everyone up to go forward into the fall season.

Two Canadians have confirmed their respective berths in the Laser Class Medal Race. Mike Leigh of Vancouver and David Wright of Toronto both punched their collective tickets to the final today and sit third and ninth overall respectively. Racing continues on all course areas with Nikola Girke looking to maintain her medal race position while Tyler Bjorn and Richard Clarke have crept ever closer with a fifth in todays’ first race, leaving them at the moment just outside the medal race hunt with a race remaining.