Racing has gotten underway at the 2009 470 World Championship in Rungsted, Denmark, with the Australian Sailing Development Squad pairing of Sam Kivell and Will Ryan the leading Australian crew in fourth position at the end of day one.
Kivell and Ryan had a great opening two races with a third and second placing leaving them just one point behind the three teams that are currently tied for the lead.
Beijing Olympic Games Gold medalist Malcolm Page and skipper Mathew Belcher had a consistent day on the water and finished with a seventh and fifth placing to be in 15th overall, just eight points off the lead.
Meanwhile Alexander and Patrick Conway and Max Taylor and Klade Hauschildt are in 84th and 85th respectively.
In the women’s fleet Olympic Gold medalists Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson finished their first day of international racing since victory in China a year ago in 24th position, with a 19th and solid sixth placing in the day’s two races.
The ASDS crew of Stacey Omay and Chelsea Hall follow their fellow West Australians and are in 32nd, while ASDS sailor Jacqui Bonnitcha and crew Claudine Olgilvie are in 54th.
After a brief delay racing was underway in Denmark by 1pm with the wind building into the mid-teens throughout the afternoon and blowing from the south to southeast. The 95 boat men’s fleet has been divided into three groups while the 57 crews in the women’s fleet are racing in two groups with two races per day for all groups.
For more information go to www.australiansailingteam.com.au.