Strong start for GBR at 2014 IFDS World Championships 

Paralympic classes sailors on course in Halifax, Canada

Britain’s sailors saw an impressive start to the 2014 IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships in Halifax, Canada, occupying top three positions across all three classes after two days of racing.

Paralympic Champion Helena Lucas started Thursday’s (21 August) third day of competition top of the pile in the 2.4mR fleet after a solid set of scores across the four races completed so far.

The event, held at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, marks the first opportunity for nations to qualify berths at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

In the 49-strong fleet, Lucas has opened up an 18-point cushion over her nearest rival after four races. Megan Pascoe opened her account with a frustrating black flag disqualification and sits 12th overall, however with a race win in the third race of the series the 2014 European Champion expects to climb back up the leaderboard once the discard comes into play after five races have been completed.

The Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas began their Championship in fine form taking both race wins on the opening day of the regatta on Tuesday (19 August), but couldn’t match that form into the second day of racing. Canadian Paul Tingley whose hometown is Halifax, and his two teammates occupy the top spot while Robertson, Stodel and Thomas are four points behind in second.

In the SKUD 18 fleet, Paralympic Champions and five-time World Champions Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell are battling it out at the top of the feet with the Italian team of Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti, who have led from day one, and London 2012 Paralympic Champions Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch from Australia.

Claiming their first race win of the regatta on Wednesday, Rickham and Birrell moved up into second to sit level on points with Fitzgibbon and Tesch, while the Italian duo hold onto the top spot by a single point with eight points.

Racing at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships continues today (Thursday 21 August) and concludes on Sunday 24 August. There are 11 races in total scheduled for each class (two races per day Tuesday - Saturday and one race on Sunday 24 August).

For further information and results from Halifax, Canada visit www.ifdsworlds2014.ca

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