World Championship Silver for Harrison and Boaden

WAIS athletes Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden have won a silver medal in the sonar class at the 2015 Para World Sailing Championships in Victoria.

Competing with New South Welshman Jonathon Harris, the trio provided firm evidence that they will be a significant medal threat at next year’s Rio Paralympics, with the crew falling just shy of gold.

In many respects, it was a tough week for the Paralympians, who were leading for the best part of the regatta before they dropped back into silver position on the penultimate day.

A tight point battle at the top of the leader board meant it all came down to the last race with Australia finishing in third and the winning British crew in fifth, thus allowing Great Britain to win by a single point.

Colin Harrison – who skippers the crew – was proud of the effort his team delivered across the challenging week of conditions.

“It’s been really tough and tight racing, but we’re very excited to come away with a silver. The teams really brought their a-game with them and it’s been very tight, as it always is. It’s been a fantastic event and we’ve enjoyed all the racing here at this spectacular venue,” Harrison said.

Harrison however, believes the high quality racing has provided the perfect platform for he and his crew to improve as they eye gold in Rio.

“Next year will be a big year with Rio 2016 and it’s really important to keep stepping up and trying to improve in all those little areas we can get better in. Without tough competition you never get better and we certainly had that this week.”

The silver medal continues the successful run of the trio coached by Grant Alderson (WA), who qualified the Sonar last year for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after winning the bronze medal at the 2014 IFDS World Championships, with the crew having continuously finished on the podium at each regatta since.

The team took home the silver medal at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyères in April and gold at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in May. They were the only Australian Paralympic boat to compete at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Weymouth in June, where they came away with a win.

-AST