Mirror World Championship 2011 - History making for Philippine team

by Yachting Western Australia on 24 Feb 2011 Mirror World Championships - Philippine Olympic 470 aspirants Ridgley Balladreres and Romel Chavez saw the recent Championships in Albany as a great opportunity to get some experience in large fleets in West Australian conditions, leading hopefully to compete in the ISAF World Championships later this year.

The Albany result was a history-making second place for the pair who demonstrated their skills, jumping into a Mirror for the first time on arrival in Albany only a couple of days before the event. The sailors were amazed with the new Mirror handed to them and its impressive sailing attributes, including how it handled their adult weight and the 20-30knot breezes.

Thanks to generous Australian sponsorship the Mirror Class Association of WA was able to provide three new charter boats for select overseas teams. The new design proved its worth with all three charter boats finishing in the top 20 placings including another Filipino team of 16 year olds DJ Cabarles and Gabriel Fetizanan.

The Filipino teams were personally sponsored by WA mining companies who generously ensured that their travel, accommodation and meal costs were covered. They also helped kit them out for the much cooler conditions than they are accustomed to back home.

Now, hot on the heels of Ridgley and Romel's history making effort their new Mark 3 boat has been offered along with the other charter boats for sale by the Mirror Class Association of WA.

Balladeres and Chavel are attempting to qualify in the 470 class in a bid to go to the 2012 Olympics but first they must find a way to get to the ISAF Worlds later this year. In particular they are seeking a local 470 dinghy which they can sail in the November event.

www.mirrorassocwa.org/