Practice racing at the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class Worlds
6th June 2010
Practice racing at the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class Worlds news article
Practice racing was held today at the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class World Championships and SKUD18 International Championships at Rutland Sailing Club.
Access 2.3 start line at Rutland Sailing Club (Photo: IACA)
The SKUD 18s and two-person Access 303s raced in a light but steady breeze under overcast skies. Current 303 Two-Person World Champions, Eva Mircsev & Zoltan Pegan (HUN), showed they are still the team to beat by getting a clear start and building their lead all the way to the finish.
Zoltan Pegan & Eva Mircsev (HUN) are defending their World Championship title at Rutland (Photo: IACA)
In the SKUD 18s, the home teams finished 1-2-3 with new SKUD sailor Alex Hovden with stand-in crew George Barker crossing the line ahead of Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell. Michael Cogswell & Liz Foreman were third.
Start of Access 303 two-person division practice race, Sunday (Photo: IACA)
The single person classes started the second session in a fading breeze and sailed a shortened course as the drizzle began. Young Australian competitor Angus MacGregor established his credentials in the light conditions, posting a solid win ahead of Bruno Pereira (POR) and Cedric Castaldi (FRA).
Rutland Sailing Club dock is a busy place during the Access Worlds (Photo: IACA)
Zoltan Pegan (HUN) lead the single-person 303 fleet as he had earlier in the day. In the Liberties, Chris Cook (AUS) led Magali Moraines (FRA) to the line. Barry Coates (AUS) and servo sailor Vera Voorbach (NED) were also fast today.
Chris Cook (AUS) leads off the Access Liberty start at Rutland Sailing Club (Photo: IACA)
100 competitors comprising 82 entries from 10 countries are participating in the Championships. The Access 2.3 is an ISAF International Class and is sailed single-person and also with servo-electric controls at Rutland. The Access 303 is being sailed in single and two-person configurations. The Access Liberty is a single-person boat being sailed in open and servo-electric control divisions.
SKUD 18s on the reach in the practice race (Photo: IACA)
The SKUD 18 is the two-person equipment for the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Sailing Competition and is regularly sailed on Rutland Water. It is being sailed in centreline seat (“Paralympic”) mode for the International Championships.
Results and event information is published on the ACA(UK) website www.accessclass.org.uk Five days of racing commences tomorrow, Monday June 7.
