#PERTH 2011 –There has been a setback to the Peter O'Leary and David Burrows Star keelboat campaign today following their disqualification from the sixth race when the Irish crew were lying second.
Star keelboats line up for a world championship start in Perth. The Irish Star was judged to be over the line in race six. Photo: Richard Langdon
It means the pair are now in a real fight to secure Olympic qualification. The top 11 nations will qualify for next year's Olympic regatta and the Irish pair are currently 11th nation. Swiss, Italian, Greek and Croatian rivals are all vying for the final slot and can still overhaul the Irish boat.
The pair were pulled from the race by officials who judged them to have been premature starters in race six. The subsequent disqualifcation drops them to 14th overall as they must now count the 33rd placing scored in race four.
After five races sailed the Dublin-Cork combination were only one point off third overall earlier today.
A post on the team facebook page today simply says:
Simpson said: "We had an okay run, but Iain hurt his back and was in tears. It looks like it's his lower back, but we don't know yet. No way could we have raced the second race."
"It's frustrating; sadly this is the second event in a row Iain has injured himself. He injured his ankle last time," he said. "I guess we won't be sailing, but we never rule anything out."
Shortly after the race, Percy said on his Twitter account: "My back fully went today half way through the first race. Unfortunately the end of the championships and the beginning of a few weeks of physio."
On the penalty that ended their race, Simpson said: "Sadly we picked up a yellow flag and we don't know why – we're still confused."
Race 5 was won by Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki (POL), who led for the entire course.
Closely behind in second place were Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA), well clear of the third placed German team, Johannes Polgar and Koy Markus.
In the sixth race, Scheidt and Prada had to settle for another second place after crossing the finish just two seconds behind Swedish pair Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen.
Finishing in third and with only one second separating them from the Brazilians were Kusznierewicz and Zycki.
After six races, Scheidt and Prada move into first position overall. Mendelblatt and Fatih (USA) and Kusznierewicz and Zycki (POL) trail the Brazilians by only one point.
