Skandia Sail for Gold - Day 1 round-up

Day 1 Paralympic classes round-up from Skandia Sail for Gold

It was a testing first day at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta (6 June), with light and fickle wind conditions giving rise to race postponements and a long opening day at this ISAF Sailing World Cup event.

In what is a crucial regatta for many international crews with aspirations of making a return to the Weymouth and Portland waters for next year’s Olympic and Paralympic regattas  there was a tense wait on shore until early afternoon when the wind built sufficiently to allow racing to get underway.

All three Paralympic classes were sailing early in the harbour - the wind was a lot stronger near the shore in the morning - and completed two races in all the fleets.

In the Sonar it was Beijing 2008 bronze medallists Australia's Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden with Rodney Angwin who enjoyed the best day topping the pack ahead of 2007 World Champion helm Rick Doerr (USA) and his crew of Brad Kendall and Hugh Freund.  Italy’s Giorgio Zorzi, Massimo Dighe and Paola Protopapa lay third at the end of day one.

In the SKUDs, a second and first for Beijing silver medallists helm Daniel Fitzgibbon and his new crew Liesl Tesch (AUS) nudged them ahead of their Aussie compatriots Jamie Dunross and Rachael Cox, with whom Fitzgibbon won Paralympic silverware three years ago. Double World Champion Brits Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell sit in third, although tied on six points with Dunross and Cox.

As always the 2.4mR threw up some hotly-contested racing with consistency set to be king in deciding who will triumph at the end of the week. A 2,3 for multiple World Champion, and 2004 Paralympic champion, Damien Seguin (FRA) sees him top the pile at the early stages, with 2009 and 2010 World Champion Thierry Schmitter (NED) three points in arrears in second and Andre Rademaker (NED) in third.

To keep up to date with all the Paralympic classes action from Skandia Sail for Gold visit www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk
 

Article Author Karenza Morton 8/6/2011 07:57