Issue date
With the arrival of better weather, there are now some results to report.
In November John Buchanan travelled to the Gold Coast in Australia to compete in a liberty at the Pan Pacific Masters Games. The sailing was held at Paradise Point Sailing Club. Final results were -first Russell Phillips (AUS), second John Buchanan (NZL) and third Barry Coates (AUS).
In December New Zealand was well represented in the Paralympic classes at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Melbourne, with two 2.4m entries and three SKUD18 entries.
The event was hosted by Sandringham Yacht Club on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay, which lived up to its reputation of dishing up different weather each day. Also, there were a lot of large jellyfish which slowed boats every time they hit one!
In the fleet of ten 2.4m’s, Paul Francis finished second, and Brett Willcock was fifth. Full 2.4m results can be viewed at - http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php?rgtaid=17240&evntid=32969&view=fleetevent#results__17240
There was also a fleet of ten SKUD18’s -the most seen outside of a world championship or Paralympic Games. Tim Dempsey and Gemma Fletcher finished second, Paul Wager and Rachel Shardlow fifth and Helena Horswell and Mark Winters were ninth.
Full SKUD18 results can be viewed at - http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php?rgtaid=17240&evntid=32970&view=fleetevent#results__17240
There is also an interesting article on Canadian sailor Tracy Schmitt, who finished eighth which can be viewed at - http://sailmelbourne.com.au/news-list/isaf-sailing-world-cup-melbourne-canadian-sailor-s-determination-has-led-her-to-melbourne-and-the-sk
