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Australian crews into medal races at Olympic test event

 

Australian crews into medal races at Olympic test event

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AOC

Six Australian crews will contest medal races today at the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta on Fushan Bay in China...

Six Australian crews will contest medal races today at the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta on Fushan Bay in China.

The tricky conditions have caused problems for the Australian crews however they have provided a great insight into conditions for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Yesterday saw winds gusting over 20 knots and huge rolling waves, which made for a spectacular day of racing.

Just the eleven Medal Races remain today to decide to winners of the ISAF Grade 2 event and Official Beijing Olympic Test Event.

“The Australian Sailing Team’s primary goal at the event was to learn the weather conditions for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games” said Head Coach, Victor Kovalenko.

He went on to say, “The Australian athletes have achieved that goal and in the process are now into the medal races in six classes."

These crews are:

Laser – Tom Slingsby (currently 6th)
Laser Radial – Sarah Blanck (currently 8th)
RS:X Women – Allison Shreeve (currently 10th)
Star – Peter Conde & Andrew Hunn (currently 5th)
Tornado – Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby (currently 10th)
Yngling - Nicky Bethwaite, Karyn Gojnich & Angela Farrell (currently 6th)

Meanwhile there were positives for many of the Australian crews that did not qualify for the medal races.

470 World Champions Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page (14th) achieved an outstanding result yesterday winning both round 9 and 10 races.

Page commented, “It’s unfortunate we missed out competing in the medal race. The conditions have been very fickle and difficult on the water, but it's a good opportunity for us to practice in the conditions.”

Kovalenko was very pleased with Brendan Casey’s 12th placing in the Finn Class. It was his first time at international level in this event for the former Laser Champion.

Iain Murray and Andrew Palfrey (6th) did not compete in last five rounds of the Star Class. Palfrey is due to compete in the Farr 40 World Championships in Newport, USA from next week onwards and Murray withdrew due to work commitments.

470 crew Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson have been battling illness since arriving in Qingdao. They both did not compete in the final five rounds of the competition.

Yachting Australia

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