| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(16-12-2006) A fleet of over 280 competitors from eighteen countries including Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Great Britain, Norway, India, Mexico, Spain, Chile, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Turkey, France, China, Ireland, Canada and Hungary all completed day one of the four days of racing planned for Steve Jarvin Motors Sydney International Regatta 2006.
Racing kicked off at 12 noon in a shifty 15 knot sou’ Easter on Sydney’s iconic harbour with competition being held on three difference courses.
63 Lasers raced in a round robin series, with New Zealand’s Andrew Murdoch, a previous Sydney International Regatta Laser class winner, scoring three first places today to lead the class. Australian Tom Slingsby finished today’s races with a first, second and fourth and is still in contention with Matais Del Soar from Chile rounding out the podium.
In the Yngling fleet, Olympian Nicky Bethwaite and her crew displayed their prowess on the water winning both of their races. Katie Spithill, who is sailing with fellow match racer Nina Curtis, sailed well to finish the two races for today in second.
The 49er class had some very close racing with first place currently being occupied by two teams, the Victorian team of Will Phillips and Jon Newman and local team Emmett Lazich and Phil Manning. One point behind the leaders is recently crowned NSW champions Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin. 2004 Athens Olympian in the 49er class, Chris Nicholson sailing with Euan McNichol are currently placed fourth on eleven points.
Mexico’s Tanya Elias – Calles Wolf sailed well in the Laser Radial fleet to be leading the class and the Australian contingent with Sarah Blanck from Victoria the highest placed Australian woman in third overall and Krystal Weir
and Gabrielle King equal eighth. Blanck was leading after two races with a first and second but a fifteenth place dropped her down the overall placing going into day two of racing.
France’s Martin Gaveriaux dominated the RS: X Board fleet to take both bullets from Australian Michael Lancey. Allison Shreeve is leading the women from Alisha Kawalla and Belinda Stowell.
In the 470 men’s class Queenslanders Mathew Belcher and Nick Behrens had a fantastic day on the water finishing first and second in the two races from today following on from their recent win at Sail Brisbane. Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page finished fourth in the first race and won the second to be placed second with the Swiss team of Tobias Etter and Felix Steiger completing the top three with a second and fifth place.
Australian Youth Olympic Festival representatives Lucinda Whitty and crew Kimberly Wilmot and Lachlan Doyle are first and third respectively in the 420 fleet after three races today.
A number of competitors have been involved in protests due to infringements on the race course involving ferries transiting the harbour.
“The turn out for this year’s event is very pleasing with a high level of talent across the fleets racing. Racing today was really close and enjoyed by all. The atmosphere at the venue is great with this many boats and
competitors racing over the four days”, commented Stephen Leahy, CEO of Yachting NSW.
The forecast for tomorrow is for a partly cloudy morning with sunny periods developing and East to Nor’ East winds. Racing continues for the next three days with the first race of the day planned to start at 10am.
Provisional Results Day 1:
Yngling
1 Nicky Bethwaite RSYS- 1,1 2
2 Katie Spithill RPAYC – 2,2 4
3 4 boats tied for 3rd
470
1Mathew Belcher & Nick Behrens RQYS - 1,2 3
2 Nathan Wilmot & Malcolm Page MHYC - 4,1 5
3 Tobias Etter & Felix Steiger SUI – 2,5 7
49er
1Will Phillips & Jon Newman SorrectoSC – 2,1,4 7
2 Emmett Lazich & Phil Manning WSC – 1,3,3 7
3 Nathan Outteridge& Ben Austin RSYS – 5,2,1 8
Laser
1Andrew Murdoch Kerikeri Cruising Club – 1,1,1 3
2 Tom Slingsby GSC -7,3,1 11
3 Matais Del Solar CHI -3,5,5 13
Laser Radial
1Tania Elias-Calles Wolf MEX - 5,9,1 15
2 Ben Gunther SYC – 9,2,4 15
3 Sarah Blanck RBYC -2,1,15 18
RS:X Boards
1 Martin Gaveriaux FRA – 1,1 2
2 Michael Lancy MPSC – 2,2 4
3 Justin Lord DSC – 4,3 7
Laser 4.7
1Ben Laycock Blairgowrie YS – 1,3 4
2 Jonathan Dawes Belmont 16’s – 4,1 5
3 Jarrod Lincoln Albert SC – 3,2 5
420
1 Lucinda Whitty RPAYC – 1,1,3 5
2 Ashley Carney RPAYC – 2,4,1 7
3 Lachlan Doyle RPAYC – 3,2,1 7
29er
1 Steven Thomas & Jasper Warren RPYC – 4,3,1 8
2 Clint Marshall & Ty Marshall Belmont’s 16’s – 5,1,4 10
3 Mathew Vandervoort & Ethan Comford Belmont 16’s – 11,2,2 15
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