The Sang Island Classic is an annul event held at a small town called Leeman which is about a 3.5 hour drive North from Perth.

The winds average in between 20 to 35; however, this year was a very different story as a strange weather paten moved in dropping the wind down to 12 to 13 knots.

There was only one round of slalom to be run so it was winner take all.

The winds picked up to 15 knots before the start and it was Robbie Raids (Neil Pryde/Kinetic to take the lead closely followed by Jesper Orth (Severne/Starboard) with Martin Tango (Severne/Star Board) in third. After the first jibe mark the wind dropped to 12knots and it was Tango on this bigger set who made his move passing Jesper to move up to 2nd place. Radis was also an a smaller set up and on the last jibe mark he fell of the plain and Tango jibed in the inside to take the lead. Radis soon got planning and took off down wind of Tango and went for the pass under neath him. 50m from the finish, they were neck to neck but it was Radis who managed to find serge of speed to take back the lead to win by 1.5m from Tango with Orth hanging onto 3nd.



Results

1. Robbie Radis (Neil Pryde/Kinetic) Australia

2. Martin Tango (Severne/Starboard) Denmark

3. Jesper Orth (Severne/Starboard) Denmark

4. Claude Le Coq (Arrows/Kinetic) France

5. Tom Radis (Neil Pryde/Kinetic) Australia

6. Bjorn Hagen (Arrows/KInetic) German



Marathon

After the Slalom was over, it was to Marathon to be run. The wind was very on shore so the normal 13 mark down wind course had to be change to a straight run down the cost with know jibe marks. The wind was only 12 to 13 knots so most of the sailors went for course boards and 9.8 as with the angle of the wind the course was quiet off the wind.

The Marathon was started with a boat start and it was Orth who stormed into the lead followed by Tango with Chris Lockwood (Arrows/Kinetic closely followed in third.

Radis was in fourth and coming on strong. Tango was flying and worked his way past Orth to take the lead a couple mins in into the race. Radis worked his way past Lockwood then sail deep down wind to try and pass Orth and Tango under neath.

Tango saw Radis make his move and sail down to cover him but he was too late. Radis had managed to get his nose in front of Orth and Tango as they reach the half way point.

On the second half of the Marathon the course was more of the wind and Radis managed to go deeper and pull out a 100m lead. Orth and Tango were neck to neck but then Orth managed to work his way into second. Lockwood then made is move on Tango to take the third place with 500m to go. Radis looked to have the race in the bag with a 100m lead but then a line of ropes from cray pots were in the water 300m from the finish. Radis put the brakes but Orth powered on. With 100m to go, Orth had now closed the gap to less than a meter. With 50m to go and with no more lines in the water, Radis put is foot down held onto his lead to win by 1m from Orth followed closely by Lockwood with Tango in 4th.

Comments. Robbie Radis (Neil Pryde/Kinetic) I had a great time at this event, the wind was light but the racing we so close. Im really happy to have one this event. I was a little worried going into this event after coming striaght from the AWT event in Taiwan, I was a little run down but some how I felt really good on the water.



Results

1. Robbie Radis (Neil Pryde/Kinetic) Australia

2. Jesper Orth (Severne/Starboard) Denmark

3. Chris Lockwood (Arrows/Kinetic) Australia

4. Martin Tango (Severne/Starboard) Denmark

5. Claude Le coq Arrows/Kinetic) France

6. Tom Radis (Neil Pryde/Kinetic) Australia









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