420 racing in Kiel 2011
After a hotly contested week of racing in Kiel Germany, Queensland Sailing Team members and Australian Youth Team members Angus Galloway paired with Alex Gough in the 420 class, and the remarkable 29er team of Josh Franklin and Lewis Brake have taken gold for Australia and Queensland.
Completing the full 11 races, Brake and Franklin fought passed their European and international competitors, to prove that they had the tactics and boat speed to beat anyone in the world. Taking three straight race wins during the middle of the regatta, and an overall consistent performance, gave these Queensland young guns the points lead to secure them the gold medal.
With a five point lead over closest competitors Emil and Lubeck from Denmark, the team were extremely happy with their boat speed and racing decisions, but definitely found the chilly German wind and water a hard physical factor.
In the 420 class Gough (18yrs) and Galloway (18yrs) proved that consistency is key with only two race results outside the top five, from the total 11 races. “We sailed well overall and were happy with our boat speed, we had the boat tuned and knew what we had to do” said Gough after the final race. The team finished with an overall lead of 24 points from rival boys teams from Germany and Greece. The boys knew they had to stay in front of the Germans in the final race. However this was no problem, with greater speed the young Australians finished third in the final race and the Germans sank back to a 12th to finish off their regatta hopes.
“It was great to stand on the podium for Australia, it was a huge regatta and means a lot to us, we have had a lot of support from our coaches, sponsors and club…”
With this confidence boost both double handed teams now head for the ISAF Youth worlds in Zadar, Croatia. Once again these young Australia’s have proven the strength of Queensland’s double handed classes, and their ability to be the best in the world.
Check out some of the 29er racing from the final day of Kiel 2011 : Kiel Racing 29er Class
Andrew Gough
Yachting Queensland