Wind plays havoc at Disabled Worlds

Halifax, NS (August 22, 2014) – It wasn’t for lack of effort by the sailors or the race officials. But neither the 2.4 mR nor the Sonar classes were able to finish a race during Friday’s schedule at the High Liner Foods IFDS Worlds 2014.

Races were scheduled to start at 1300 and several were started. But racing was abandoned after wind shifts of 90 degrees or more on the 2.4 mR course. In the Sonar class, racing was delayed, then started and called off in the middle of a race due to lack of wind.

The SKUD-18 course was set up near McNab’s Island and had better luck. Two races were completed. Australians Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch, gold medallists from the 2012 London Paralympics have moved into first place in the class. They are followed by the British team of Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell in second and Italians Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti in third. The Canadian team of John McRoberts and Jackie Gay are in fourth place.

The results remain the same as Thursday for the 2.4 mR and Sonar classes with the German, Heiko Kroeger and the Canadian team of Paul Tingley, Scott Lutes and Logan Campbell both in first place.

The weather system affecting Halifax this week has brought north east winds in the mornings, which fade in the afternoon. So the Race officials have made a decision that all competitors will be going out earlier on Saturday as officials work to make sure as much racing as possible is carried out during the regatta. The first signal for the 2.4mR fleet will be 1100 and at Noon for the Sonars and SKUDs.

Racing continues daily through August 24.

Event website – Results

Report by event media.