Sonars Official Debut Performance
by Jessica Statham on 21 Oct 2000
Australia win Race 2 in the Sonar Class on Sydney Harbour Rachel Nahum
Today we saw the Sonar class compete, for the first time as a full medal sport in the Paralympic Games
2000. This boat is especially designed for disabled sailors, with an 11ft wide cockpit, and angled seats, an ideal Paralympic class.
The three person Sonar class, were ready to go on the gun, a couple of boats more eager than others. Three gun blasts and we have a general recall. Once again they find their best proposed postion on the line, a lot of the fleet are sticking to their original decision, the pin end. Australia got off to an excellent start, having chosen the port side of the course, sailing away in clear air, whilst Germany and Canada stay to the right. The wind was a steady southerly 12 knots as the fleet made there way up to the first windward mark. Australia rounding first, shortly followed by Canada, then German and Sweden.
As the wind dropped to about 9 knots and was gradually moving south easterly the positions began to change, some crews proving to gain place on the down wind run. Germany finish their debut race, running away gracefully with a lead of 1min 20 seconds over Canadan, who were just under 1 min ahead of the Australian crew of Noel Robbins, Jamie Dunross and Graeme Martin.
Race two was for the Aussies. After another general recall, the Australians had an excellent start, once again at the pin end of the line, they broke away leaving the rest of the fleet in their dirty air. Skippered by Noel Robbins a former Americans Cup skipper, the Australian kept their lead thoughout the race.
The win was in the bag from the start, as they were first to round every mark, and kept clear air and fresh water through out. The Australians finished the race with a dramatic lead of nearly 2 minutes ahead of who seems to be their rivals, Germany.
Race 1 Results
1 GER, 2 CAN, 3 AUS, 4 NED, 5 USA, 6 IRL, 7 GBR, 8 ESP, 9 ARM, 10 ISR, 11 SWE, 12 NOR, 13 NZL, 14 SUI, 15 JPN
Race 2 Results
1 AUS, 2 GER, 3 SWE, 4 ESP, 5 GBR, 6 CAN, 7 NOR, 8 NZL, 9 NED, 10USA, 11 ISR, 12 ARM, 13 SUI, 14 IRL, 15 JPN
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