Perth 2011 - Triple Laser World Champion enjoys Grandstand view
by Rob Kothe & the Sail-World team on 16 Dec 2011
Laser Men’s Tom Slingsby at the top mark - Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships Alex McKinnon Photography
http://www.alexmckinnonphotography.com
In 2000, a young Australian school boy sat on rocks at Bradley’s Head on Sydney Harbour watching some of his greatest sailing hero’s fighting for the Olympic Laser Gold. He decided he wanted to do just the same thing.
This Sunday Tom Slingsby, Triple Laser World Champion and 2010 World Sailor of the Year, is aiming to take his fourth Laser World Championship at Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, as part of his journey to the London 2012 Olympics.
Racing hard, he is currently the clear leader having won five of his eight races, and is ahead of the 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist Paul Goodison (GBR).
Slingsby has been sitting on the Fremantle Harbour rock wall watching the other classes. He said ‘I watched all the medal races from the Grandstand on the rock wall overlooking the Centre (Bathers Beach Course). It’s been absolutely sensational; it’s just great to watch.'
Slingsby won’t however be able to watch the race he is looking forward to the most. ‘On Saturday the Laser Gold fleet will be sailing that very Centre Course, 50 boats all calling for water and right in front of the Grandstand. It’s going be a really interesting day. I've been revising all of my water rules for those two races.’
Slingsby is aiming to be at the top the leader board heading into the Laser Medal Race which is scheduled for 16:10 on Sunday, the last of four medal races to be contested.
Other medal races to be sailed are the 470 Womens at 13:10, 49er at 14:10 and the RS:X Mens at 15:10.
Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships website
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