WAIS Sailors Set for Para World Champs
WAIS sailing athletes Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden along with teammate Jonathan Harris (NSW) will be looking to build on a successful 2015 campaign when they compete at the Para World Sailing Championships in Williamston, Victoria.
With the trio having last year qualified the Sonar boat for the 2016 Paralympic Games, the crew have gone from strength to strength, achieving podium position results in each regatta since.
The team took home the silver medal at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyères in April and gold at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in May. They were the only Australian Paralympic boat to compete at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Weymouth in June, where they came away with a win.
Weymouth was a return to the London 2012 Paralympic venue for Colin Harrison and Jonathan Harris who had some unfinished business there after missing out on the podium in 2012. But after a rebuild of the crew with 2008 Paralympian Russell Boaden back on the team, they are in strong form and are looking forward to Melbourne as an important preparation on the road to Rio.
“Having won two gold and a silver on the European circuit this year, things are coming together nicely at the right time in the lead up to Rio next year and the Para Worlds will be another important step along the way” Jonathan Harris said.
“It will be great to race on home waters and we are anticipating some great racing against our main competitors for next year’s games.”
Amongst others, the Australia’s Sonar team will be lining up against the current world champion team from France; Bruno Jourdren, Eric Flageul and Nicholas Vimont Vicary, as well as Germany’s Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games gold medallists and London 2012 silver medal winners; Jens Kroker, Siegmund Mainka and Robert Prem.
At the 2015 Para World Sailing Championships the fight will also be on for the remaining Rio 2016 spots. Australia already qualified all three Paralympic boat classes at last year’s Para World Sailing World Championships, but the competition will be high with these World Championships offering a total of 35 athletes the opportunity to book their spot in Melbourne for Rio 2016 after the 2014 Championship saw the first 50% of spots snapped up.
Registration, measurement and classification will run for three days in Melbourne from 24 November. The Opening Ceremony will take place on 27 November with six days of racing commencing on Saturday 28 November. A single race on Thursday 3 December will bring the regatta to a close followed by the prize giving.
The 2015 Para World Sailing Championships are followed by ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne in St. Kilda, Melbourne from 7-13 December.
-YachtingAus