Perth 2011 Sails for Commonwealth Meeting
Sailing in the waters of Bathers Bay in Fremantle where Centre Course will be set during the Worlds in December, a 20 knot sea-breeze gave participants a true taste of likely conditions.
The exhibition regatta was organised to give CHOGM guests an idea of the excitement that the biggest international sailing event of the year will bring to Perth and Fremantle.
Perth 2011 Event Director John Longley and World Championships hopeful Belinda Stowell entertained delegates on the same vessel that will play the role of Spectator Boat during the World Championships, explaining some of the finer points of the sport of sailing.
Mr Longley said it was a great afternoon on the water and praised the efforts of the sailors involved.
“Perth turned it on during CHOGM and the conditions in Fremantle were simply stunning,” Mr Longley said.
“To have sailors of the ilk of Marit Bouwmeester of the Netherlands, Lisa Ross of Canada, Sara Winther from New Zealand and Andrea Brewster from Great Britain was a great spectacle for our international guests and a wonderful endorsement of the World Championships in December.”
The following day, eight Perth 2011 Lasers joined Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, along with 100,000 Western Australian locals at the Great Aussie Barbecue in the City of Perth.
The Lasers sailed close in to the Esplanade and Langley Park as part of the festivities to farewell the Queen after her 16th visit to Australia.