IFDS World Championships - Australians make a strong start

by Craig Heydon on 28 Aug 2013 At the IFDS World Championships in Ireland and the Finn Gold Cup in Estonia, light winds have made for a slow day of racing.

After losing the opening day due to a lack of breeze the Paralympic classes finally got racing at the IFDS World Championships with two Australian crews making a strong start.

Australia’s Sonar crew of Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden ended the day in second position following three solid races in Kinsale.

Harrison, Harris and Boaden began their first World Championship together with a second, before finishing sixth in race two and winning race three.

'We had a good start in the first race with a close fought battle for second place,' said Harrison. 'A tough couple of legs in race two, followed by a strong recovery, left us in sixth position in that race. Then in the final race of the day we produced a great start leaving us with only the French to reel in and score our first win. We’ve had a solid start to the regatta and sit in second after three races.'

The results leave the Australian trio one point behind the leading French crew.

In the 2.4mR class Matt Bugg also made a good start and is currently third overall after two races. Bugg began the event with a third before finishing eighth in race two.

'After a day without racing yesterday we got our first two races in today in five to 10 knots and I finished with a third and an eighth,' said Bugg. 'I’m happy with how I started the regatta with my boat feeling fast and I was happy with the decisions that I made.

'Tomorrow looks like the same conditions as today so I’m planning on building on my opening day’s performance and putting in two more keepers,' he said.

Neil Patterson and Mark Durnan are both contesting their first IFDS World Championship in the 2.4mR fleet with Patterson ending the day in 25th position following a 19th and a 33rd.

Durnan is currently 40th after finishing with a 36th and a 41st.

At the Finn Gold Cup Oliver Tweddell continues to be the leading Australian after two days of racing in Estonia.

Tweddell sits ninth overall following the opening four races after a ninth and a 33rd on Tuesday.

'I had another good first race today finishing ninth,' said Tweddell. 'Then in race two I played my get out of jail card, recovering from last to eventually finish 33rd. Now sitting ninth overall and looking forward to tomorrow’s racing.'

Brendan Casey ended day two in Estonia in 35th position following a pair of 48ths, with Jake Lilley working his way up to 48th after a 17th and a 35th. Joe McMillan finished the day with a 69th and a 58th to be 69th.

Full results from the IFDS World Championships can be found here and the Finn Gold Cup here.

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