21 Irish sailors have travelled to Weymouth, which will be the home of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta. They are competing, in the Sail for Gold Regatta (14th – 19th September 2009), across 5 different Olympic classes (Star, Radial, 49er, Laser and Sonar). With three years to go to the Olympic regatta itself eyes are on Irish prospects.
In preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, this Regatta has taken place for the past three years at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in Dorset. Since 2006 there has been an increasing level of international participation, year on year. For 2009, 571 entries from 38 nations have entered. This represents 747 athletes who will compete over the coming days. 2009 is likely to be the last year that nations can entry more than one team per class.
Racing commenced yesterday (Monday 14th September), with the final Medal Racing scheduled for Saturday 19th September. Saturday is being billed as a ‘spectator day’, with large screens transmitting live pictures and tracking of the racing, with commentary from the water and on the shore for the Medal Races.
Day One Provisional Results (Irish Results)
Laser Standard Fleet: 103 Entries - 2 races completed
1st (AUS) T Slingsby 1, 1
51st J Espey 29, 25
87th O Loughead 48, 38
95th C Simms 46, 48
Laser Radial Fleet: 58 Entries – 2 races completed
1st (FIN) S Multala 1,1
8th A Murphy 5, 13
27th T Brien 19, 38
30th D Hanna 46, 16
43th C Murphy 29, 50
470: 55 Entries – 2 races completed
1st (AUS) M Belcher 1,1
54th B McCartin & F Bradley 26, 28
49er: 43 Entries – 3 races completed
1st (AUS) N Outteridge & I Jensen 3, 1, 3
31st R Seaton & M McGovern 27, 25, 34
33rd E Butler & R Fitzpatrick 33, 26, 36
42nd A Kissane & R Wallace 39, 39, 44
Star: 19 Entries – 2 races completed
1st (GBR) I Percy & A Simpson 1,2
8th M Treacy & A Shanks 10, 7
Sonar: 8 Entries – 2 races completed
1st R Doerr, H Freund & M McKinnon-Tucker 1, 1
9th J Twomey, A Hegarty & I Costello 8, 7