Fitzgibbons and Tesch Clinch Gold at the 2015 EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup, the Delta Lloyd Regatta, in Medemblik, the Netherlands
May 31, 2015
The third leg of the 2015 EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup, the Delta Lloyd Regatta, ran in Medemblik, the Netherlands this week. Over 700 boats and competitors from 74 different nationalities competed in ten Olympic and three Paralympic classes over five days (26-30 May).
The 31st edition of this popular sailing event, which is the biggest sailing event in the Netherlands, saw Australian Sailing’s full Paralympic Team (AST) and Squad (ASS) compete in the three Paralympic classes of the Sonar, Skud 18 and 2.4MR, which have attracted record numbers of entries.
Paralympic Gold medallists Daniel Fitzgibbon (NSW) and Liesl Tesch (NSW), winners of the World Cups in Melbourne and Miami, won a Gold at their first European regatta of the year.
Conditions were quite challenging for all competitors apparently. On the morning of medals race day, Liesl tweeted “Last day racing lDLR2015 - joy! Woke to rain, thunder,lightning. Now it's hailing! Eeek!”
The Australian Sailing Team sent messages back home
“Solid 15-20kts on day 4 of Delta Lloyd Regatta, rain, verrrry cold!
In the Paralympic classes Fitzgibbon/Tesch Rio 2016 moved into overall first with a commanding win in the first race and second in the other. Barnbrook/Pearce Skud18 had a solid day with two 6th places & overall rank 7. Our Australian Sonar Sailing Team cemented 2nd place behind France after posting a 4th & 3rd. The 2.4mR only got one race as it got up to 25kts after the first one finished. Matt Bugg Sailing had a solid race to finish 2nd & 4th overall.”
Dan and Liesl after the event:
"The weather really didn't get any better here in Medemblik. It started off very cold and windy and finished off very cold, windy and wet. We had had a good Delta Lloyd Regatta tho, winning the Gold Medal after a bit of a slow start. Now back home and keep working towards the Games.
Thanks to our supporters who keep us going including Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Zhik Nautica Ronstan Sailing Sunrise Medical Blackmores Australian Sailing Team and One Sunrise"
Dan braving the elements
Australia’s Sonar crew of Paralympians Colin Harrison (WA), Russell Boaden (WA) and Jonathan Harris (NSW) started their European season with a silver medal at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyères and had a strong fleet of twelve boats, including all Hyères medallists, to compete against. They still clinched the Gold.
Matt Bugg (TAS) had his most successful European regatta in Hyères to date when he won a silver medal in the 2.4mR and will be looking to build on this in a big fleet of 32 boats, including ASS’s Neil Patterson (TAS).
In the Nacra 17 Australian Sailing Team’s Darren Bundock (NSW) and Nina Curtis, also of the RPAYC, who won a bronze medal at the regatta last year had some great sails in the strong winds but finished outside the medals.
RPAYCs Nina Curtis in action this week
Australian sailors won Gold, Silver, Bronze in the Olympic classes at Delta Lloyd Regatta - Matt Wearn Sailing (Laser - Gold), Jake Lilley Finn Sailing - AUS 41 (Finn - Silver) & Turner/Brake 49er Sailing Team (49er - Bronze).
The Delta Lloyd Regatta is followed by the ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth (8-14 June). It is the fourth ISAF Sailing World Cup of the 2015 series and will see all Australian Sailing Team and Squad Olympic contenders compete at the London 2012 venue. Several European and World Championship Regattas in the individual classes fill up a busy competition calendar for Australian Sailing up to the Rio Test event to be held at Marina de Gloria from August 12-22.
