Day One Blown Away

Strong winds have delayed the start of the Marseilles International as racing was postponed, scheduled to start tomorrow when the winds are forecast to die down.

The line up to this year’s first World Tour is outstanding, with 9 of the top 10 ranked skippers competing, along with the two qualifying skippers - Ainslie and Morvan who are ranked 12th and 13th respectively. Then of course, who could forget the America’s Cup champion Ed Baird who has committed to the 2009 World Match Racing Tour.

Follow the action on www.mirskyracingteam.com or www.worldmatchracingtour.com

Kinley Fowler
MIRSKY RACING TEAM

Audi Etchells Worlds Day 1: Bertrand in control after hard day at the office

[source: Audi Etchells Worlds 2009]

John Bertrand and his crew of Ben Ainslie and Andrew Palfrey (AUS) have lived up to their ‘race favourites’ tag, taking the Day 1 lead of the Audi Etchells World Championship following two light and shifty races being sailed on Port Phillip today.

Hosted by Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Victoria, racing on the two lap windward/leeward course was delayed until winds finally filled in, finally getting underway shortly before 3.30pm after a general recall, which was repeated in Race 2.

Sailing on his home turf, Bertrand, and his crew placed third in Race 1 and 11th in Race 2, enough to give them a one point lead over Brisbane’s Jason Muir/Matthew Chew/Paul Wyatt (AUS) with a further four points to a second Melbourne crew, Damien King/Simon Cunnington/James Ware/Andrew Butler (AUS). Read on…

Training in Marseilles

In true Marseilles fashion, gale force winds plagued the team’s first scheduled training session, and the team was forced to move down the coast to Antibes where shelter from the Bora wind allowed for a solid day’s sailing. With the winds easing off in Marseilles, the team was able to return to the original training schedule in the J80s.

The event has an all star line up with Ian Williams trying to defend his World Championship, a number of America’s Cup teams, including the current holder of the world’s oldest trophy – Ed Baird from Alinghi, and some newcomers who are set to cause some upsets.

The first day of racing commences on the 11th. Follow the action either on www.mirskyracingteam.com or www.worldmatchracingtour.com

Kinley Fowler
MIRSKY RACING TEAM

Skippers Invited To 2009 ISAF Women's Match Racing Worlds

[source: ISAF]

The 12 top skippers in the world have been invited to the 2009 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship in Lysekil, Sweden held during Lysekil Women's Match from 27 July-1 August.

With women’s match racing on the Olympic programme for the first time at the London Games in 2012, the World Championships this summer in Lysekil, on the west coast of Sweden, will be a key event in the sailing world. The world’s top teams will battle for the World Champion title and the biggest prize money in women’s match racing, 50,000 Euro, during the fifth edition of Lysekil Women’s Match, previously a world cup race.

Today, the invites to the prestigious event will be sent out to the top 12 teams in the world. The skippers will be invited according to the ISAF World Match Race Ranking list, which was updated yesterday, 4 March. The reigning World Champion and #1 on the ISAF World Match Race Ranking list, Claire LEROY (FRA), will be invited along with the 10 following skippers on the ranking list. The last spot will be awarded by the Swedish Sailing Federation and the organizing yacht club Lysekil Yacht Club Gullmar.

French skipper LEROY and her Team Ideactor will be defending the World Champion title for the second time in a row. Sweden’s Linda RAHM is ranked second in the world and is familiar with her home waters. She will also gain confidence from her victory at last year’s Lysekil Women’s Match.

Britain’s Lucy MACGREGOR, is definitely the top rookie among the invited skippers. MACGREGOR, previously a crew member on several successful teams, has as skipper climbed the ranking list at impressive speed and is now placed third on the World Ranking. MACGREGOR will be a name to watch out for, especially with the goals of representing her nation on home waters at the 2012 London Olympic Games in mind.

ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship 2009 - Lysekil Women's MatchInvited skippers

1. Claire LEROY (FRA)

2. Linda RAHM (SWE)

3. Lucy MACGREGOR (GBR)

4. Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN)

5. Silke HAHLBROCK (GER)

6. Elizabeth BAYLIS (USA)

7. Katie SPITHILL (AUS)

8. Sabrina GURIOLI (ITA)

9. Sally BARKOW (USA)

10. Nicole SOUTER (AUS)

11. Anna KJELLBERG (SWE)

Plus one wild card to be confirmed

Lysekil Women's Match - http://www.lysekilwomensmatch.se/

Editors Note: Great to see two Aussie girls on the list. Lets hope they can put together the funding to complete the season.

The World Match Racing Tour Begins

The Stage Is Set For the 2009 WMRT

The stage is set for a vicious battle on this year’s World MatchRacing Tour as a number of heavyweights in the sailing world have beengiven the chance to compete for the championship- including Alinghiskipper and America’s Cup champion Ed Baird, 3 time gold medallist BenAinslie, and 2 times defending World Champion Ian Williams, along witha number of America’s Cup teams and young up and comers.

It all kicks off next week in Marseilles as the Tour’s newest eventgives 12 teams a chance to get some early points in the fight for theworld title. With 5 months intense physical preparation in the lead upto the 2009 season and a good record in the event’s J80 boats, MRTlooks to be in good shape to perform. The team will be travelling toFrance for some final training with defending champion Ian Williamsand Alinghi’s Ed Baird in the J80’s. “It is exciting for us to becompeting together again” said Torvar as the dates for the MarseillesInternational Match Race close in. “We feel like we have had a goodlead up to the event with two physios working closely with our teamand getting us in good shape for this year’s Tour. We have never felt better!”

Follow the action at www.mirskyracingteam.com or www.worldmatchracingtour.com

Australian Sailing Team begins preparation for London 2012

2008 Australian Sailing Gold Medalists

[source: Craig Heydon, Yachting Australia, Thursday, 26 February 2009]

Gold medals are on the minds of Australia’s top sailors as they begin the long campaign towards Olympic glory in London with the announcement of the 2009 Australian/AIS Sailing Team.

Reigning Olympic champions, silver medallists and new pairings headline the 2009 Australian/AIS Sailing Team.

Beijing champion Malcolm Page begins his third Olympic campaign with a new skipper, as Mathew Belcher joins him in the 470 class. The new pairing has gelled instantly with Page and Belcher winning the recent Australian 470 National Championship.

“The time Mat and I have spent together so far has been phenomenal and the level we’re at has exceeded our plans,” said Malcolm.

“Mat and I are focused on this year’s World Championships and we’re after a medal. We’re not too concerned about the colour but Gold always looks good. We’re both looking forward to going up against the best 470 crews in the world,” he said.

Darren Bundock, who claimed a silver medal in Beijing, has put the demise of the Tornado class behind him, seeking a new challenge in a 49er with Ben Austin.

“After three Olympic campaigns in a Tornado, the change to a 49er for London 2012 is a refreshing and exciting change,” he said. “The 49er is just like sailing a Tornado on ice! I’m fortunate enough to be sailing with the current 49er World Champion crew to make me look good.”

“Our new campaign is just like Dancing with the Stars, I’m now the clumsy new comer with two left feet and Ben is the star teaching me all the steps,” said Darren.

Australia’s other Gold pairing of Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson begin their London 470 campaign refreshed and ready to hit the waters of Europe in a few months time.

Australian Sailing Team head coach Victor Kovalenko sees a lot of potential in the 2009 Australian Sailing Team.

“This is a transition year for us but we still have a number of goals to achieve,” he said. “Goal number one is to gain experience and goal number two is to be a leading squad in our sport at the various World Championships.”

Laser sailor Tom Slingsby has put his Beijing disappointments behind him as he looks to return to the form that took him to victory at the 2007 and 2008 World Championships and finish 2008 ranked number one in the world.

Australia’s leading R:SX competitor Jessica Crisp will hit the water again after a strong fifth placing in Beijing as she heads towards her fourth Olympic Games.

In 2009 the Australian/AIS Sailing Team will feature a second 49er crew and a third new pairing with Nathan Outteridge set to compete with Australian Sailing Development Squad member Iain Jensen.

The Australian/AIS Sailing Team will maximise the benefits and expertise available through the world renowned AIS scholarship program. These AIS sailing athletes will continue to be well supported through the sophisticated AIS coaching, training and competition program as well as individualised sport science and medicine support.

As recently as this week the Team returned from a successful training camp at the AIS Canberra campus where they undertook intensive off water physical performance education and training sessions.

In the coming months team members will begin heading to Europe to contest a number of major international championships in their classes.

In 2009 the team will also have their first hit-out on the Olympic course at Weymouth in the Sail for Gold Regatta this September.

The Australian Sailing Team is proudly supported by major co-sponsors Audi and Hamilton Island.

2009 Australian/AIS Sailing Team
Mathew Belcher & Malcolm Page – 470 Mens
Elise Rechichi & Tessa Parkinson – 470 Womens
Darren Bundock & Ben Austin – 49er
Tom Slingsby – Laser
Jessica Crisp – R:SXNathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (Development) – 49er

2009 Australian/AIS Sailing Team – selected but deferring until 2010
Iain Murray
Andrew Palfrey
Nathan Wilmot
Glenn Ashby
Sarah Blanck
Angela Farrell
Karyn Gojnich
Krystal Weir

Acuity wins Line 7 Sydney 38 Australian Championships

Photo: Andrea Francolini

Tony Walls and his 'Acuity' team of Mal Page, Roger Perret, Paul Gudmunson, Andrew Toon, Sam Davidson, Jason Greenway, Justin Lambeth and Chris Dawson have won the Line 7 Australian Sydney 38 Championships held off Sydney heads last weekend.

'Acuity' won five of the eight races with their worst place being a fourth. Chris Way's 'Easy Tiger' finished second and Alan & Thomas Quick’s 'Outlaw' finished third.

Sydney 38 Class Association

NSW Team of the Year

Congratulations to Nathan Wilmot OAM and Malcolm Page OAM who won the award for the NSW Team of the Year for the second year in a row at the NSW Sports Federation Awards. Nathan and Malcolm won the Gold medal in the 470 class at the 2008 Olympics in Qingdao, China.

Nathan and Malcolm's Coach Victor Kovalenko won Coach of the Year.

18 footer - JJ Giltinan Championship

Congratulations to Euan Mc Nicol, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas, the new JJ Giltinan World champions on Southern Cross Constructions.

In what was said to be one of the "craziest" races on Sydney Harbour, Southern Cross finished fourth in the final race, taking the championship by one point from Active Air-2UE (Matthew Searle, Dan Wilsdon, Archie Massey), with Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton, Tom Clout) three more points adrift in third place.

Thanks to Christophe Favreau for the pictures.

Flying Eleven History

Gotta love girl power... Olivia Price and Maddie Clancy became the first ever “all girl crew” to win the NSW Flying Eleven State Championships. These girls also won every Flying Eleven Association regatta during this season, except the F11 Nationals, finishing second to team mates Josh McKnight and Ira Dubrey.

I sailed Flying Elevens myself (many years ago) and thinking back now there were always a couple of girls just off a podium place, but now Olivia and Maddie have change history, Congratulations

1363 CRUNCHIE Olivia Price & Maddie Clancy M16'SSC 2008-2009 NSW F11 Champions Photograph: F11 Association, pricey