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Yachting Australia
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Australian crews in podium positions in three classes at ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship
Australian sailors are currently in podium positions in three classes with just two days of racing remaining at the 2012 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Dublin, Ireland.
Carrie Smith and Ella Clark continue to lead the way in the 420 girls class with the pair now three points ahead of the second placed Italian crew following 10th and second place finishes on Wednesday.
“Today was a very tricky day, the conditions really tested us but we are happy with where we are positioned,” said Smith. “With three more races we are determined to keep going and holding our own. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!”
Smith and Clark are competing at their second ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship after finishing just off the podium in fourth last year in Croatia.
In the multihull class Paul Darmanin and Lucy Copeland remain second overall, having closed the gap to the leading British crew to just four points.
“It was another shifty day on the water as expected,” said Darmanin. “We managed to pick the wind pretty well and get two good results of a fourth and a first.
“With such fluky conditions in the second race we used dinghy tactics, tacking 10 times on a work which is ridiculous for a catamaran to jump up through to the lead,” he said. “The first and third placed crews both had a bad race today so to keep it consistent is really nice to head in to the final three races.”
Mark Spearman has moved back into the medals in the Laser Radial boys class, ending the day third overall following a 17th and a 16th.
Spearman is now just two points behind second and a further 11 off the lead in what is turning out to be a high scoring regatta.
Queensland sailor Louise Evans has moved up from her overnight 13th in the Laser Radial girls to be 11th overall, following a fourth and a ninth from the day’s two races.
“I had my best day of the regatta today,” said Evans. “The conditions were tough, I had luck go my way and managed to finish with a fourth and a ninth, bringing me up to 11th. I’m looking forward to the last few races so I can work my way into the top 10.”
Tom Siganto and Joel Turner were another Australian crew on the move on Wednesday with the pair now fifth in the 29er fleet, up from seventh.
“Today was quite a good day for us with an eighth and a fourth,” said Turner. “One race was abandoned after a very large squall came through our course which made the day interesting.
“We’ve now moved our way into the top five which was our goal for the day,” he said. “With this we will now continue to push up as close as we can to a podium finish.”
Australia’s 420 boys crew of Tom Klemens and James Oliver had their best day of the regatta so far, with an eighth and a 10th moving them up to 20th.
“After a disappointing start to the regatta we finally started to find some form today,” said Klemens. “We were leading the first race for a couple of legs but unfortunately got caught out on a shift and finished eighth. The second race was light and tricky again however we were happy to finish in the top ten, we’re satisfied with our day and hopefully can continue it tomorrow.”
Annalise Gilbert is currently 17th overall in the RS:X girls fleet with the Sydneysider finishing Wednesday’s two races in 16th and 21st.
In the RS:X boys fleet fellow Australian Sam Treharne is 19th overall at his first ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship. Treharne crossed the line 21st in race one and 18th in race two.
Racing continues in Dublin on Thursday before the final day of competition on Friday.
Full results can be found at www.isafyouthworlds.com.
Follow the Australian Youth Sailing Team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AustralianYouthSailingTeam.
