| Australia. Casey firms grip on third Laser Gold Medal |
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| Wednesday, 04 January 2006 | |
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Ian Grant: Specialist Olympic Laser class helmsman Brendan Casey has expressed his supreme tactical knowledge in racing on Brisbane’s lumpy Waterloo Bay to firm a stronger grip on his third Australian championship. Casey a super fit aquatic athlete who has a lengthy 14 year career in the physically demanding class recorded a 3-1 on the first day of the Gold Fleet finals to extend his lead to 8 points over the younger Gosford (NSW) helmsman Tom Slingsby while New Zealand’s Andrew Murdock trails Slingsby by 3 points. Remarkably some of the big Queenslanders closest rivals have questioned his easy draw in the split fleet qualifying races. However in spite of who had to race against who the point score still shows that the defending champion from the Lake Macquarie nationals raced on a different course in another State has not altered the fact that the Southport Yacht Club sailor has what it takes to be known as a Laser champion. Casting the war of the words aside Casey has shown he has the collective technique and race strategy to sail consistently over a widely varied range of winds and sea conditions which he has proved by winning eight races including the important gold medal round victory today. Sure he is in a strong position to win back to back Gold however he has far to much respect for the likes of Tom Slingsby, Andrew Murdock and today’s first race winner Michael Bullot to become complacent. “There is still one day of the regatta to go”. He said. Highly skilled Radial class helmsman Matheiu Frei of France has left his personal stamp of tactical one-design racing authority during hi championship series. Before the championship began the modest skipper was listed as just another name on the entry list. But a little over a week later he has shown the class of a veteran Waterloo Bay sailor to master a complex set of variable wind and at times the white crested waves known as the Waterloo Slop to record 7 wins from 9 races. His remarkable consistency has been rewarded with only 10 penalty points lost handing him a 9 point buffer over the skilled New South Wales helmswoman Krystal Weir who is using this series to kick start her Olympic campaign for 2008. Weir has a four point break over local RQYS skipper Greg Adams while her Olympic team rivals Sarah Blanck is 4th another four points adrift of Adams with Melanie Dennison 6th 15 points off the pace. The exceptionally talented Queensland Youth Squad members Klade Hauschildt (19pts) and Jacqueline van Soest (35pts) have proved they are in great form to contest the Australian Youth championship and World title selection trials off Mooloolaba next week. Collectively they have dominated the top of the 4.7 class score board throughout with van Soest leading early before Hauschildt expressing a tactical maturity well beyond his 16 years to lead the race for Gold into the final two races by a commanding 16 points while Jacqueline van Soest comfortably holds second by 11 points over New South Wales youth skipper Keiren Searle. Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 January 2006 ) |
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