WAIS Sailing Pair Well Placed at World Champs
WAIS sailors Jamie Dunross and Rachel Cox have ended the second day of competition at the IFDS World Championships in Weymouth, England seventh overall, just six points off third in the highly competitive Skud 18 fleet, after crossing the line seventh and sixth in the day’s two races.
Australian crews are in the thick of the action in the Skud 18 event, with Cox’s former partner Daniel Fitzgibbon and new teammate Liesl Tesch currently second, whilst the fellow Australian crew of Ame Barnbrook and Lindsay Mason have fought their way up to fourth overall.
Making Dunross and Cox’s performance even more impressive is the fact it is only the second time they have competed together at an international regatta.
Following the first day’s competition, Dunross appeared confident with the pair’s start to competition in Weymouth, the venue for next year’s Paralympic sailing.
“We had a positive day today,” said Dunross. “Our first race was good, we had a fair start and managed to stay out of trouble for most of the race andRachael was fantastic up the front calling the wind shifts.
“Unfortunately in the second race things got a bit harder but we fought back in the end,” he said. “Tomorrow is a new day and we’re looking forward to getting into racing again.”
In the Sonar fleet Colin Harrison (WAIS), Russell Boaden and Rod Angwin (WAIS) are 13thoverall after a sixth and a 12th on day two.
“The boys had a very good day, all apart from one leg of one race,” said coach Grant Alderson. “The racing has been really good and tomorrow they’ll have another look at their tactics and continue to communicate well with one another.”
The Sydney-based Sonar crew of Stephen Churm, Jonathan Harris and Jason Elwes are just behind Harrison and crew in 15th, recording a 16th and a 15th on Monday.
Racing continues in Weymouth on Tuesday with the 2011 IFDS World Championship continuing until Friday July 8.
-Yachting Australia