Although Britain's Gavia Wilkinson–Cox emerged the eventual winner of yesterday's opening race it was the strong performance of Cultra's Simon Brien, who took second, that gives the Irish team the confidence boost for the next two rounds on Dublin Bay this morning. (Monday).
30-knot north westerly winds postponed racing in the 15–nation fleet for over two hours and ironically when the fleet finally left Dun Laoghaire harbour yesterday afternoon there was barely enough wind to get them to the start line.
When racing started at 3pm winds were under six knots but visibility had improved dramatically.
The first windward leg of just under two miles was slow–going in a choppy sea and ebbing tide. Although race officer Alan Crosbie made minor adjustments to the course several times the westerly breeze from between 275 and 290 stayed steady enough and picked up to over ten knots by the end of the two windward leeward legs.
Wilkinson Cox – one of three lady helms competing – took a pin end start. Eighty percent of the fleet were bunched at the far committee boat end of the line so she had plenty of room to sail low and fast to the left hand side of the course into Scotsman's bay.
Within minutes of the start she was four or five boat lengths clear.
It was an advantage she pressed home coming in to the weather mark some ten lengths clear astern.
Crewed by Ron Rosenberg and John Mortimer the Cowes helmswoman from Royal Corinthian Yacht Club was chased hard by Belfast Lough's Simon Brien who is sailing with regular partners, brother Mark and David Gomes.
Former Irish champion, Brien overhauled Cox at the start of the second downwind leg but the former windsurfing champion came back to win her first ever World championship race. It was a result she declared was 'the highlight' of her 30–year Dragon career after coming ashore at the Royal St.George Yacht Club last night
Third overall was Cox's team mate Robert Campbell in Quicksilver III.
Tim Pearson who came off the line close to Cox and rounded in the top ten slipped but slipped back as far as 21st by the finish. The Royal St. George's Andrew Craig was seventh and 2007 Irish champion Neil Hegarty was 13th.
Other placings were subject to protest but it was a disappointing day for defending world champion Tommy Muller of Germany who finished sixth. Multiple champion and former Olympic Gold Medallist Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen placed 28th.
Martin Byrne of the host club retired following an incident and last night he was seeking redress in front of the international jury who sat to consider three separate protests.
Dragon World championships on Dublin Bay 2007: 1. Jerboa G. Wilkinson Cox (GBR) 2. Kin S. Brien (IRL) 3. Quicksilver III Robert Campbell (GBR) Other top Irish placings: 7 Chimera A Craig; 13 Phantom N Hegarty; 15 Rigmarole JR Murphy; 18 Cloud C Hogan; 19 Tatsu C Good. 68 sailed.
