Temperatures rise at IODA Oceania Championship
by Sally Burnett IODA on 12 Jan 2010
Rigging in front of the clubhouse - IODA Oceania Championship Sally Burnett
The Adelaide Sailing Club, Holdfast Bay, in the Gulf of St Vincent South Australia, played host to the IODA Oceania Championship and the AIODA Australian Nationals from 5th-10th January. This event attracted 94 sailors from 11 countries and 4 continents and was the largest Oceania Championship ever held and the first one in Australia.
Participating sailors from Oceania were: Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, while the open event welcomed sailors from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, USA, Germany, Denmark and the UAE.
Malcolm Hughes, the PRO, had a challenging job during this regatta as the temperatures built to 42ºC, which reduced and sometimes cancelled the sea breeze. This, coupled with the strong tide, made sailing conditions particularly difficult.
By the end of the penultimate day, nine races had been completed and the sailors arrived on the final day hoping for a sea breeze. Unfortunately at 1.30pm the race committee announced that there would be no more racing and effectively brought the event to a close.
This championship was particularly marked by the success of the girls. They rose to the challenge presented by the conditions and they dominated the championship with 6 placed in the top 8 overall. Nia Jerwood, 11 years old from Western Australia became Oceania Champion and was 6th overall, closely followed by Eliza Wilkinson, from Auckland, New Zealand, second Oceania sailor and 8th overall.
The Open Championship was won by Samantha Neubronner, Singapore, six points ahead of her two nearest rivals – both girls.
Oceania Championship
1. Nia Jerwood AUS
2. Eliza Wilkinson NZL
3. Lachlan Gilmour AUS
Oceania Open Championship
1. Samantha Neubronner SIN
2. Jia Min Audrey Lim SIN
3. Jillian Lee SIN
Full story and results:
http://www.optiworld.org/news1Article.php?link=09newsOceania.html
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