Two Qld local sailors competing for Australia in this huge event. Joanna Sterling (Womens RSX) & Luke Baille (Mens RSX). Best wishes guys hope you have a great regatta
Here is the link for many pictures for the worlds
www.albaria.com/1pagina/1pagina2011/immagini/Photo_Perth2011_sailing_worlds/index.html
I think this is the best place to see the results and info for the worlds
www.perth2011.com/
Live coverage on one at the moment women's Rsx medal race this afternoon, it not very often you get to see windsurfing on tv
The women RSX sailors sure look strong and fit.
Pity the wind conditions were flukey, shifting, up and down, and not that conducive to fast sailing.
The "Doctor" appeared to be off duty and on the golf course all week.
It appears weed also dogged the sailors.
Bad luck for the Aussie girls Jessica Crisp, Krystal Weir, Allison Shreeve and Joe Sterling, the difficult sailing conditions didn't suit them.
The fleet were highly competitive as you can imagine for a World Titles. The vast majority of the "Gold" fleet have been sailing at this level (Grade 1)for 10 years or more. They all (except two) competed at the last ISAF worlds in 2007.
Jo ended up 53rd overall and in the Silver fleet but she is pleased with this result as most if not all of the girls her age were in the Silver fleet. She had a great last day finiihing 8th and 6th with some blinder starts. Also a couple of good results before the fleets were separated into Gold and Silver. Finishing a metre behind the great Alessandra Sensini and ahead of the 2010 World Champion in one race.
Yes the conditions weren't quite what was expected and there was weed on the inner course. But there were many planing races and its the same for all competitors.
So after a short break, its back to training for the Nationals in Jan, Auckland in Feb and the 2012 worlds in Spain in March.
Good luck to the boys this week.
Fantastic Jo, you'll be at the front with the best of them before you know it.
Good luck Luke, give them hell and get a few more of those classic starts you did in Melbourne.
Hey guys good to hear that there is some interest in RSX, just a quick update for those jwho are interested,
so far the last couple of moths have been pretty tough having to sail 6 days a week in near perfect short boarding conditions on the RSX in various locaotions around Australia but I have learnt so much. We have had an anxcious last week watching all of the girls race and now that we have started its kinda surreal. Two days of qualifying have been completed so far with one more to go
Day 1
I managed to get some speed off the start and place myself well around the first top mark, by maintaining this around the course I ended up 13th for race one which was a great start To the regatta considering that there is 90 competitors at these worlds.
In the second race got an absolute stocking start forcing me to tack off and go to the right of the race course this actually ended up working in my favour as the wind shifted to the right on the first beat putting me inside the top ten for most of the race until the last downwind where I went off on a stupid silly tangent with the 2009 world champion only to lose 10 places coming in to the finish to end up 17th
Day 2
Today was an interesting day as the sea breeze ie the doctor was constantly fighting the gradient breeze so it was very on off in a way going from 5 to 20knots making it very tricky. My first start today I started on port and managed to punch my way through few starboard tackers allowing to get to the right hand side of the course very quickly where there was breeze, when I tacked back on the starboard layline I realised I was looking like a top ten rounding at the first mark, as I drew nearer but I got some seaweed and drastically slowed up the wind crapped out and it was a massive **** fight to hold that position I had, and I ended up 23rd
Race two saw an increase to the wind and even knowing I had a **** start I played the chess board and worked my way back into the top 20 by the first mark. The aim of the game today was to avoid the seaweed and what a mission that was, by the end I had worked my way back to 15th which will definitely be a keeper race :)
So this now puts my 31st overall so I am very stoked you can watch the races live at the perth2011 website on the gps action replay if you are getting bored at work or are genuinely interested. Cheers guys and I will update you again soon
We stopped in Freo for a day. I didn't get to see much of a race, and typical of any planned windsurfing event, there was no wind. Here are some piccies i took while walking around. They were setting up for some live performance in the park but not sure what it was.
Hi Luke
Great to hear you have found good speed upwind.
The "Elevator" seems to have got you up to the next level.
Placing consistently in the top 15 or so is exciting news.
I suppose you would like see the "Doctor" harden up a bit.
All the best for the rest of the regatta!
yep, that was great coverage of the finals. those guys pump the crap out of their rigs! exciting racing and interesting to see the big gaps that some of the racers can pull on their fellow competitors in a short time!
