| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(19-12-2005) An 18 knot sou’ west breeze had the morning racing of the SIRs fleets providing some impressive sailing with the Tornado fleet flying around in the vicinity of Shark Island. Day three of racing at the 2005 Sydney International Regatta (SIRs) had a number of classes without changes in the leader board in the 12 classes racing. The afternoon’s races had a lighter sou’ west breeze on a crystal clear summer’s day.
Krystal Weir who recently placed fifth at the Laser Radial World Championship has rocketed up the Laser Radial standings to knock Sarah Blanck out of the lead with Zac Skulander maintaining a constant second and New Zealander Miranda Powrie returning the third place. Series leader Sarah Blanck was unable to race in any of today’s races and will have to unfortunately carry a couple of Did Not Compete results.
Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby continue to dominate the Tornado class with the next two positions having remained the same for the first three days of racing with world number 2 ranked Leigh McMillan and William Howden in second and the Greek pair of Iordanis Paschilidis and Trigonis Koscancinos maintaining third place.
The Yngling fleet completed racing over yesterday and Athens Olympian Nicky Bethwaite with her crew of Karyn Gronjnich and Helen Impey won with Hamish Jarrett and his crew of Trent Goldsak and Sara Phillips in second and class newcomer Nicky Souter and her crew of Angela Farrell and Sarah Wilmot in third.
Tom Slingsby has maintained his overnight lead in the Laser class with a five point separation from New Zealander Andrew Murdoch. Canadian Michael Leigh completes the top three places after eight races.
Rohan Veal has lead from the start of SIRs in the Moth class with Scott Babbage maintaining second over the last three days and Mark Robinson from Singapore is in third place.
After eight races and three days of racing positions in the Finn class have remained the same with Anthony ‘Nocka’ Nossiter leading Ed Wright from the UK with New Zealand’s Nik Burfoot in third.
Aron Gadorfalvi one of two Hungarian board sailors racing at SIRs continues to lead the RS: X boards from Australian board sailor Corey Plant. After today’s two races Australia’s number one ranked board sailor Jonathan Bonnitcha has moved back into third place.
Mathew Belcher and Nick Behrens have maintained a strong lead in the 470 men’s class from New Zealanders Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington over the last three days and go into the final day of racing with a six point separation. Western Australian team of Elise Richichi and Tessa Parkinson sailed well today to manoeuvre in front of previous leaders of the 470 women’s class Lauren Jefferies and Rike Ziegelmayer.
Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin maintained their overnight lead in the 49er class to hold off Emmett Lazich and Phil Manning while Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page slipped back to fourth behind Clynton Wade Lehman and Tai Elliott.
Tomorrow will be the final day of racing for SIRs 2005.
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