Australian crew maintains third position at 2010 IFDS World Championship
Fitzgibbon and Cox finished with two third positions to move within seven points of second overall and are just 10 points off the leaders from Great Britain.
“Today’s two races were good, we were pretty consistent with two third place finishes,” said Fitzgibbon.
“The first race was a solid result, especially in variable conditions with a lot of crews moving up and down the ladder as the race progressed.”
“Then in the second race we were over the line early and had to re-round the start but we managed to fight back through the fleet really well,” he said.
Fellow Skud 18 competitors Ame Barnbrook and Lindsay Mason had a fourth place finish in the day’s opening race before unfortunately being disqualified in race two.
“It was long day today with two races and the early postponement made it even longer but overall it was good,” said Barnbrook.
“The wind was flukey but the racing was good and in the first race we had a good start and went around all the legs pretty well and finished with a fourth which is our best position yet.”
“In the second race we rounded the top mark first to lead the fleet and after that unfortunately we went back in the fleet and were eventually disqualified which was a shame,” she said. “Both Lindsay and I are very tired, it’s been a long regatta but I think we have achieved a lot of our goals and have set strong foundations for the future.”
Australian Skud 18 coach Adrian Finglas has been impressed with the way Fitzgibbon and Cox, and Barnbrook and Mason have approached the week’s racing.
“We had a good day with Dan and Rachael leading the first race and then Ame and Lindsay were leading the second before being disqualified,” said Finglas.
“It’s been a really good starting point for the future, we now need to go home, work hard and next time lead the way for the whole race.”
The Australian Sonar crew of Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Rod Angwin sit in 11th position heading into the final day of racing after finishing with a ninth and a fifth in the day’s two races.
“In the first race we got off to a disappointing start and weren’t able to get a clear lane which left us trapped on the left,” said Angwin.
“We then struggled for the rest of the race and crossed the line in ninth.”
“Next up we got off to a great start but made the wrong move in separating and went around the top mark in second behind Great Britain but then rounded the bottom mark in sixth and eventually crossed the line fifth,” he said.
“Tomorrow we’re going to try and make the best of our last two races, finish on a high and see if we can qualify the country for the 2012 London Paralympic Games,” said Angwin.
In the 2.4mR fleet Tasmanian sailor Matthew Bugg has maintained his 14th position after finishing with eighth in race one before crossing the line early in race two.
“Today was a bit of a rollercoaster,” said Bugg.
“I had a good first race and after a fairly average start slowly made up more and more places and ended up finishing eighth and then in the second I had an OCS which was disappointing.”
“Overall I’m happy with how the week has gone, I’m really enjoying the regatta and quite happy with my performance for my first World Championships in the 2.4mR class,” he said.
The 2010 IFDS World Championship finishes in The Netherlands on Wednesday with two races scheduled for all teams.
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Photograph: Ame Barnbrook and Lindsay Mason racing in Holland - photo by Katie Culbert.
