World Championship Bronze for WA Sailors Harrison and Boaden

WAIS sailors Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden have won bronze at the 2016 Para World Sailing Championships in the Netherlands.

The event held in conjunction with the Delta Lloyd Regatta, saw Harrison, Boaden and their crewmate Jonathon Harris earn nine top 10 results, which also included a race win and five podiums in a sign the Australian boat is tracking well ahead of September’s Paralympic Games.

Going into the final race, there were still only six points separating the top four boats. The title could still have gone to any of them.

The Australian crew made the best start in the final race with Great Britain close behind. The Americans trailed in ninth at the top mark and made a huge recovery downwind to round third. On the final downwind the British team found a way past to win the race and take silver from the Australians who had to settle for bronze. The separation between the medallists was just three points.

Skipper Harrison said it was disappointing to miss silver but noted that the competitive nature of the field meant that podium spots would always be up for grabs.

“It was a tough end to a very challenging day with a roller coaster ride of emotions as we were up and down,” said Harrison at the end of racing. “As always it’s very close racing, and there are a few teams that have jumped right up. There are now several teams who could potentially take top three.”

Harrison, Boaden and Harris helped Australia qualify its boat in the Sonar class for Rio via last year’s World Championships, and it is anticipated that this same crew will earn official selection to contest the Paralympics, starting on September 7th.