Cork County Council IFDS Worlds 2013 at Kinsale Yacht Club - Day 2
by Rachel Solon, Irish Sailing Association 27 Aug 2013 21:36 BST
25-30 August 2013
Racing got underway today in Kinsale for the Cork County Council IFDS World Sailing Championships in glorious sunshine after yesterday's sailing was postponed due to light winds. Conditions were initially looking poor this morning and the competitors were held ashore. However after an hour of waiting the Race Committee lowered the postponement flag and the sailors headed out to the race course.
On the Sonar course, the 18 boat fleet got a good start shortly after 12 noon in a northerly breeze coming off the land. However the race had to be abandoned half way up the first leg as the breeze died. The competitors went back to the starting area and waited until the wind filled in from the south/south west although the forecast was to be from the north. There was only one general recall and the class finished the day with three good races. Bruno Jourden & his crew (France) got the first gun and a fifth and second to end up overnight leaders. Colin Harrison (Australia) finished in second followed by London 2012 Bronze medallist Aleksander Wang-Hansen (Norway) in third.
Commenting on today's racing Peter Crowley Principal Race Officer for the Sonar stated "It was great to get three races sailed today as we are now only one race down after yesterday's postponement. It was very competitive out there today but it is early days and it is all to play for."
The three Irish boats finished in 11th Paul McCarthy (Kinsale), 12th John Twomey Providence Team IRL and 18th Jacqui Browne (Tralee).
Meanwhile on the 2.4mR and Skud 18 class courses, two races were completed when the wind eventually filled in. In the nine boat Skud 18 fleet it was a second and a first for Italian Marco Gualandris who is now the overnight leader followed by London 2012 bronze medallist Alexandra Rickham (UK) and John McRoberts from Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Canada.
On the 2.4mR course it was not a good day for London 2012 Gold medallist Helena Lucas (UK) who finished down the fleet in 13th overall with 6th and 20th. Heiko Kroger from Germany was the silver medallist in Kinsale while the overnight leader in the 2.4mR is Bijlard (The Netherlands).
Day two produced excellent racing (from Claire Bateman)
Another fairly windless day in Kinsale this morning (Tues) with just a light breeze greeting the competitors in the IFDS Championships. However, it was all extremely enjoyable with a lovely convivial atmosphere and most people enjoying their morning coffee while the postponement flag was flying. Suddenly the harsh sound of a hooter alerted all present to the fact the flag had been lowered and one could not believe the speed with which the clubhouse, marina and surrounds that had been packed were suddenly empty and silent. Wheelchairs whizzed by at speeds that appeared to anything up to twenty miles per hour and one competitor was cycling at great speed on his specially adapted bicycle. Competitors needing assistance to get to their boats were speedily surrounded by their helpers and within what seemed like a matter of minutes the fleets were all heading to sea. Also disappearing with the speed of light were the committee boats, the support RIBS, jury RIBS, etc. and the event was on or, was it? To be or not to be, that was the question.
The first attempt at a start was on the Sonar course east of Kinsale. Race Officer Peter Crowley tried a start with a north westerly wind blowing but unfortunately the wind died half the way up the beat and that race had to be abandoned. After a short delay the wind that had been off the land had filled in from the sea with a nice 8/10knot south westerly breeze enabling a start for all three classes and they finished the day with three good races.
The Sonar fleet included Kinsale’s own John Twomey, a veteran paralympian, and his crew Anthony Hegarty and Ian Costelloe, and Paul McCarthy and his crew Brian O’Mahony and Paul Ryan. The Sonar fleet also included Amy Kelehan, who previously raced in the SKUD fleet, and her crew Jacqui Browne and Austin O’Carroll.
The start line for the 2.4M s was quite something with all forty two of the lean mean machines like miniature 12 metres making their charge for the line. Make no mistake about it these sailors are unbelievably competitive.
On the 2.4mR and SKUD 18 class courses, two races were completed when the wind eventually filled in. In the nine boat SKUD 18 fleet it was a second and a first for Italian Marco Gualandris who is now the leader overnight followed by the London 2012 bronze medalist Alexanda Rickham UK and John McRoberts from RVYC in Canada.
Results after Day 2: (top three in each class)
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Country | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| Sonar Class |
|---|
| 1 | FRA840 | Bruno Jourden | France | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| 2 | AUS1 | Colin Harrison | Australia | 2 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | NOR1 | Aleksander Wang‑Hansen | Norway | 4 | 1 | 6 | 11 |
| SKUD18 Class |
|---|
| 1 | ITA054 | Marco Gualandris | Italy | 2 | 1 | | 3 |
| 2 | GBR057 | Alexandra Rickham | UK | 1 | 3 | | 4 |
| 3 | CAN058 | John McRoberts | Canada | 3 | 2 | | 5 |
| 2.4mR Class |
|---|
| 1 | NED111 | Bijlard Guus | Holland | 2 | 1 | | 3 |
| 2 | PUR1 | Julio Reguero | Puerto Rico | 5 | 2 | | 7 |
| 3 | AUS36 | Matt Bugg | Australia | 3 | 8 | | 11 |
For more information visit www.ifdsworlds2013.com
Australians make strong start to IFDS World Championships (from Craig Heydon, Yachting Australia)
Light winds have made for a slow day of racing at the IFDS World Championships in Ireland and the Finn Gold Cup in Estonia.
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.
For more on the Australian Sailing Team visit www.australiansailingteam.com.au and follow the Team on Twitter.