24th June 2008
Apart from a sixth place by West Australian Bill Steele, no other Australians finished in the top 30 boats of the 82-boat that turned out for the first heat of the 2008 Etchells World Champion at Chicago today.
Steele, helming AUS1150, moved up from 17th at the first windward mark to finish close astern of four US boats and one New Zealander as the 15-18 knot breeze clocked right over 85 degrees and faded throughout the morning.
Etchells racing downwind in race one of the World Championship being sailed
off Chicago. The Australian boat in the Grouo, AUS1356, skippered by Michael Manford, was OCS.
Photo – Tim Wilkes
It died completely after the finish of race one and the race committee cancelled the planned second race.
Chicago boats claimed two of the top three placings, with Justin Palm (USA1363) winning from the New York fleet entrant Kurt Winkelmann (USA1224) and another Chicago boat USA701, skippered by Aaron Houston.
Best of the NSW entrants in race one was Steve O’Rourke (AUS1102) from Botany Bay fleet who placed 36th, while former World Champion Peter McNeill (AUS915) from Lake Macquarie came in 57th.
Of the RSYS Sydney fleet boats Jan Muysken (AUS1360) placed 59th, Matty Whitnall (AUS1134) 63rd and Stephen Ingate (AUS917) 76th.
Of the other Australians Byron Ehrhart (AUS1355) from Geelong placed 41st, Jake Gunther (AUS1244) from the Melbourne fleet placed 44th, Rob Bird (AUS1320) from the Swan River fleet placed 68th while Michael Manford (AUS1356) was OCS.
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