The Regatta began with its share of challenging racing with sailors experiencing both the offshore and sea breeze conditions that the 2011 World Championship venue has to offer. The conditions didn’t last though and towards the end of the week the famed ‘Fremantle Doctor’ sea breeze failed to show and the World Test event was plagued with poor sailing conditions.

Nick Dempsey Skandia Team GBR image

“Perth's weather really isn't playing this week. Just one sketchy race today for us today! We are Just watching Goody [Paul Goodison] sail out for his medal race and it’s only about 3 knots!” said Nick

The light winds frustrated the sailors and left the 470 Girls with two days non sailing. The lack of wind was especially frustrating for the Finn and RS: X classes with their final day medal race abandoned due to the dying breeze.

470 Girls Skandia Team GBR image

“We have learnt lots and that’s why we are here. It has been a great opportunity to check in against some of the best in the World. It's disappointing but over the last few days we have had unusually bad sailing weather in Perth and not sailed for the past 2 days” 470 Girls

The Regatta saw Ben return to the Finn in his first Sailing Regatta since Sail for Gold in August “All things considered I’m reasonably happy with the result; I haven’t been sailing the boat much in the last few years. There's Sailing fitness and a few other things I need to sort out so it’s been a fantastic week for me in that respect plus racing against these guys and seeing the physicality of the Finn racing and how its moved on. I’ve got lots to work on but it’s been a good week of racing.”

Even with the lack of wind Paul still managed to finish the event with podium place taking away a bronze medal and third overall. Ben and Nick both finished in impressive fifth places and the 470 Girls, Sarah and Saskia finished in eighth place after only completing five races.

credit Richard Langdon

“The only real chance of winning was to win the race. I did what I needed to do and unfortunately I can’t control the rest of the fleet and I think with the boats being over [the line] it meant I just lost out on second overall.”

Paul was confident that his Australian visit had paid dividends, even though the racing had not gone as expected.
 

“I think the regatta’s not been that great – the conditions haven’t really shown through and the organisation’s probably not been up to scratch, but for me coming away from Perth really the good things have been the two weeks training before the regatta. I’ve learnt a lot about Perth, had some technique development and it’s been a good trip.”

Overall Results
Paul Goodison Laser- Third
Ben Ainslie Finn- Fifth
Nick Dempsey RS:X- Fifth
Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark 470 Women’s- eighth

For all the results from the Regatta head here http://www.perth2011.com/competition/PIR2010/SAM004000/results