4:10 AM Tue 26 Jan 2010 GMT
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'Will and Sam Phillips (AUS) - Rolex Miami OCR'
© Rolex/Dan Nerney
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Australia's Women's Match Racing and 49er crews are off to a good start after day one of racing at round two of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, the Rolex Miami OCR.
Thunderstorms and expected gale force winds kept all but the 49er and Women's Match Racing fleets on shore in the morning with the Laser and Laser Radials able to get some racing in late in the day.
The Australian Sailing Team 470 men's crew of Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page remained on shore all day with three races now scheduled for Tuesday.
Australian Sailing Development Squad crew, brothers Will and Sam Phillips, had a great day on the water in the 49er fleet, winning all three races to finish with an eight point lead over the second place crew of Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis of France with third a further point behind.
The Phillips brothers' results come off the back of a number of strong recent results, including a 15th position at the recent 2010 49er World Championship in the Bahamas, sixth at the 49er North American Championship and third at round one of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, Sail Melbourne.
The Australian Women's Match Racing Team crew of Lucinda Whitty, Jessica Eastwell and Amanda Scrivenor finished day one with a 2-1 record in group A. The opening day's racing was held in winds of up to 18knots with a number of delays later in the day due to a frontal system that brought in high winds and rain.
'The girls sailed very well in their pre-starts and the around the race track, showing good speed and boat handling in the short chop sea conditions,' said Australian coach Dayne Sharpe.
The Australian's first race was against the Brazilian crew skippered by Juliana Seneft with Whitty and crew leading from the start, and extended their lead throughout the race to take a comfortable win.
Race two was against Margarita Cameselle's Spanish crew with the Australians again leading off the start line and taking a four length lead for most of the race. The Spanish came home on the last downwind with more breeze and closed the gap to one length. Good boat positioning at the pin end gave Whitty and crew a narrow but safe win.
Jen Provan's Canadian crew led off the line in race three, extending out to a four boat length lead for the first two legs. The Australians applied the pressure on the second windward leg taking back half of the lead and ready to attack on the downwind leg to the finish. In a close finish the Australian's were less than a metre behind at the finish.
'It was a good start for Lucinda and team, but every race is important in the eight boat group knock out round robin. They have to finish in the top three to have a chance to progress to the next stage,' said Sharpe.
The second Australian crew of Nicky Souter, Stacey Jackson and Rayshele Martin were drawn in a different group and due to a number of delays did not get any racing in on day one. The reigning Women's Match Racing World Champion and crew spent the day on the water keeping an eye on the progress of their competition.
Australian Megan De Lange is 41st in the Laser Radial fleet after one race was completed.
For more information go to
www.australiansailingteam.com.au
by Craig Heydon
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Sailing
