China takes the lead in the IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship. Photo by David Staley

A hot and sunny Singapore day greeted the teams competing in the IFDS Two Person Keelboat 2008 World Championship today.  The event is being held at the SAF Yacht Club, Changi, and sailed in the SKUD 18 by eight crews from as many countries.  The Championship is the final nations qualifier for the 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition two-person discipline.

At the end of the day, Team China moved to the top of the leader board with the home team relegated to third.

With sailors on the water before 11am, race officials were forced to delay the first start until a gentle easterly of 3-4 knots had settled in.  Despite the light conditions, the elbows were out at the start.  Jia Hai Liang and Yu Huawu (CHN) were forced up the wrong side of the committee boat and had to tack back, while the Malaysian team of Loke Sin Ying and Al Mustakim Matrin were caught to windward of Jovin Tan and Desiree Lim (SIN) and had to take a 360 degree penalty after the start following contact.

It took the first boat almost an hour to complete the windward-leeward course, twice around the top mark with a 1 knot current flowing diagonally across the race track.  At the finish, it was Bento Amaral and Luisa Silvano (POR) across first, followed by Tan/Lim (SIN) and Liang/Huawu (CHN).

The second race of the day (heat 7 of the Championship) was started in about 4 knots of easterly, but this built to 5-8 knots and shifted left as the race progressed.  The Singapore, Australian and China teams were best at the start, but by the first leeward mark Tan/Lim (SIN) had dropped right back and the Irish team of Amy Kelehan and John Twomey had moved up to third, behind Barnbrook/Mason (AUS) and Liang/Huawu (CHN) in first place.  They maintained their positions to the finish, with first-time SKUD sailors Loke/Al Mustakim (MAS) getting their best placing so far in fourth.

A trapezoid was set for the final race of the day and the 5 knots at the start quickly built to a solid 15 knots from the east.  Tan/Lim (SIN) were forced over the start line early by Kelehan/Twomey (IRL) while Amaral/Silvano (POR) came in late with plenty of speed to get the advantage leading up the first beat.

At the first mark, Portugal led Australia and Great Britain.  The Aussies had overhauled Portugal at the first leeward rounding and China had come from behind.  But it all went awry after that for Barnbrook/Mason (AUS) who lost three places upwind when their mainsheet bridle parted.  At the finish it was Amaral/Silvano (POR), Liang/Huawu (CHN) and Kelehan/Twomey (IRL).

In the fresh conditions, Loke/Al Mustakim (MAS) collided with a race management boat just before the second windward mark.  The International Jury agreed with their request for redress, awarding them points for equal 6th.

Once today's results were tallied, the 3-1-2 results for Liang/Huawu (CHN) have propelled them to the top of the table, three points clear of Amaral/Silvano (POR).  Tan/Lim (SIN) held on to third.

With sailors on the water for over 5 hours today and having completed 8 of the 11 scheduled races already, organisers have declared a rest day tomorrow.  Competition continues on Thursday and Friday.

For more information about the IFDS Two-Person Keelboat 2008 World Championship, visit:

Event Website & Results: www.sdsc.org.sg
IFDS Website: www.sailing.org/disabled
SKUD 18 Class Webpage: www.skud.org