International 14 World Championship - Greenhalgh goes for a swim

12:30 PM Fri 8 Jan 2010 GMT

'Rob Greenhalgh loses rudder while chasing Massey - 2010 International 14 World Championship' Christophe Favreau &copy

Former World Champion Rob Greenhalgh swims to his boat after its foiled rudder broke loose while jostling with current World Champion Archie Massey in race one of the Gold Fleet on Thursday 8 January in the CST Composites International 14 World Championship on Sydney Harbour.

The two British helmsman were clear of the rest of the fleet at the time, contesting their own match race for the lead going into the bottom mark off Balmoral Beach when the rudder pin was lost. Massey and crew Dan Wilsdon carried on to win the race sailed in a light to moderate nor'easter that built to around 12-15kts on a brilliant sunny day in Sydney.

Greenhalgh and crew Phil Harmer righted the boat, dropped the kite and the main, and took at 'fast' tow from a nearby support boat back to the Manly skiff club. Back ashore, they found a replacement rudder pin and put the rudder box back in place and returned in time to start the second race of the Gold Fleet a short time later.

Provisional Results (top five only) as at end of 8 January with four races sailed:

Gold Fleet
1, GBR 1519 Massey/Wilsdon; 2, GBR 1541 Gilbert/McGrane; 3, AUS 656 Krstic/Wilson; 4, AUS 653 Alexander/McDonald; 5, AUS 663 Irwin/Perry.
Silver Fleet
1, GER 230 Reinsch/Weidling; 2, GBR 1502 Haines/George; 3, GER 218 Frasch/Peter; 4, CAN 595 Leigh/Searle; 5, AUS 624 Vance/Vance.

More info at www.i14worlds.com

by Neil Patchett