Megan Pascoe Dominates 2.4mR World Championship

The International 2.4mR World Championship 2016 attracted 32 sailors for the event on January 6-10 in Hobart, Australia. With entries largely from Australia, Finland, New Zealand, it was the lone British entrant that toppled the fleet, winning the title with two races to spare.

Paralympic racer Megan Pascoe dominated the open competition, winning by 21 points over Matt Bugg (AUS), with Paul Francis (NZL) 14 points further back in third. Both Bugg and Francis are also Paralympic sailors.

The 29-year-old secured the Open Worlds victory a day ahead of time, having amassed an unassailable lead ahead of the final scheduled day of competition on Sunday (10 January).

But even with her world title confirmed before the final two races of the ten-race series, the Ardingly sailor still impressed on Sunday, and concluded her regatta counting four race wins and eight races inside the top three.

“It’s pretty awesome!” admitted Portland-based Pascoe.

“Going into Saturday’s race, I didn’t really think about the possibility that I could win a day early, but it’s fantastic that I did.”

Pascoe has been a regular podium performer at both disabled and Open World Championships for the one-person 2.4mR Paralympic class, but this is her first time on the top step and she was determined not to be outdone by brother Sam, himself a World Champion in the International 14 class.

“We now have two World Champions in the family – both in January and both in Australian venues, so it must be something about the month and the year!

“For me to actually go out and do this in this style is great,” added Pascoe. “I’ve only ever had a couple of regattas like that where everything has happened as it should and you’ve had that little bit of luck so I’m really pleased.”

Hobart’s river Derwent certainly provided a tough test for the World Championship competitors, with challenging wind conditions and big place changes throughout the racing.

“The river Derwent hasn’t been playing ball – people say it’s the hardest end to the Sydney-Hobart race, just getting up the river, and I can understand that. It’s a very, very interesting river to sail on and I don’t really know how I’ve come out of it so well!”

Although Pascoe’s own hopes of a Paralympic Games berth didn’t come to fruition for Rio, with defending 2.4mR Paralympic Champion Helena Lucas having earned the nod for Great Britain last year, she is resolute that she will get her chance.

“I will be competing at the Paralympics; it just might not be this one!” she said confidently.

Complete results…click here.