Audi Flying Fifteen Worlds Britain wins first race

8:37 AM Sat 10 Jan 2009 GMT

'GBR-3821 (Goacher and Evans) cross the finish line to win Race 1 of the 2009 Audi Flying Fifteen World Championships' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

The first race in the 2009 Audi Flying Fifteen World Chamopionship has been completed on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne.

The race was sailed in the forecast seabreeze of around 15-18kts, making for excellent racing.

The Australian crew of Grant Alderson and Dean Mcaullay led for much of the race before being overtaken by the British crew of Steve Goacher and Phil Evans on the penultimate windward leg.

Eighty five yachts competed from six countries competed in the the Open fleet with places amongst the top five being shared between three countries.

Two New Zealand crews had the closest finish with Murray Gilbert and Jonathan Burgen, just finishing ahead of Brett Willcox and Dave Pearson, after Gilbert called right of way on Willcox just short of the finish line allowing them to Gilbert to take fourth place with only a second or two separating the two boats in what was the closest finish of the day.

Gavin Gourley and Adam Kingston (AUS) were in sixth place.

All results quoted above are provisional. Several protests have been lodged as a result of today's racing, however they are not expected to include the top finishers above.

Full details of the racing can be found on www.sail-world.comor the official website www.ffiworlds2009.yachting.org.au

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World

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