Aussie duo close to top of next international challenge - 505 Worlds

12:46 AM Tue 25 Aug 2009 GMT

'Chris Nicholson helming PUMA Ocean Racing as they lead Ericsson 4 by just a few boat lengths, on leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race from India to Singapore' Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race &copy Click Here to view large photo

Fresh from the Volvo Ocean Race, Puma team mates Casey Smith and Chris Nicholson have taken their skills back to the dinghies to contest the SAP 505 World Championship.

The Newport Shipyard sponsored team finished the second day of racing in the SAP 505 World Championship on San Francisco Bay in third place in the only race of the day helping them to retain their second place overall. On day one they achieved a fourth and then a third place in the two tough races of the day. The team are now just five points behind leaders Mike Holt and Carl Smit of USA.

Nicholson started his road to international success in the 505 class taking out the World Champion title three times; in 1992, 1994 and again in 2002. Now with three Volvo races, two Olympic Games and three 49er class World Champion titles under his belt, Nicholson is on fire.

The lay-up of several months earlier this year due to a leg injury which forced him out of the Volvo campaign and away from his favourite job as watch captain when the PUMA team left Cochin gave him the time to plot his course to towards another possible 505 world champion crown.

Team mate Smith however has only been back on dry land for just over six weeks after completing his first circumnavigation of the world as bowman on Puma.

The dinghy partnership between Nicholson from Lake Macquarie and the younger Mooloolaba sailor Smith is relatively new. Previously in the 505 class Nicholson has competed with his brother Darren. Smith has previously raced the class on San Francisco Bay while a member of the Pegasus Racing team.

Both team members believe they can achieve a podium finish in the championship. They certainly intend enjoying the break from the ocean racing circuit; well at least for the time being.

Racing in the nine-race SAP 505 World Championship, hosted by St Francis Yacht Club, continues through to Saturday 29 August.

Event website - www.505sapworldchampionship2009.com/