1:09 AM Mon 7 Dec 2009 GMT
Olympic class sailors Serbian Dany Stanisic (Laser) and Colombian Nicolas Lozano (RS:X) are today a step closer to reaching the Olympics, after winning their events at the Inaugural Perth 2011 Emerging Nations Programme (ENP) Regatta on the weekend.
Stanisic and Lozano secured wins in Fremantle, ahead of some of Perth's best. With Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) sailors competing, WAIS Executive Director Steve Lawrence said: 'It's great to see WAIS sailors getting international competition in their own backyard through Perth 2011's Emerging Nations Programme.
WAIS is happy to support initiatives that help sailing in WA keep developing champion athletes like Olympic Gold Medallists Belinda Stowell, Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson.'
Despite today's racing being cancelled and results from yesterday being taken as final, competitors' spirits were not dampened, said Perth 2011 Event Director John Longley. "The winds were howling at 25-30 knots and at one stage we had more boats (Lasers) upturned than the right way up. For safety reasons the race was abandoned but the athletes were all having a great time," Mr Longley explained.
Apart from providing the ENP athletes with experience, the regatta was also held to test the courses for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. "It was good for Perth 2011 to test the courses and discover how best to operate the racing, two years out from the main Event."
According to ENP Head Coach Belinda Stowell, Stanisic has made vast improvements in Perth, after being beaten at a regatta on the first day, by (Australian sailor) Ryan Hannan. "After speaking to Dany..., he said 'I am going to learn from this and next time I am going to win'," Stowell said.
These words rang true for Stanisic, who left Hannan in his wake to settle for second. The ENP's Andrew Lewis, of Trinidad and Tobago, powered through the waves to third in the Lasers.
Colombian Nicolas Lozano's skills were evident early in the programme. He continues to progress, taking out the RS:X trophy ahead of the ENP's Qasim Abbas, of Pakistan and Bermuda's Alex Jones at the regatta.
ENP Head Coach Arthur Brett is pleased with the ENP participants increasing confidence. For these athletes, who are aiming for Perth 2011 and potentially to qualify their nation for the 2012 London Olympic Games, the Dream Begins in Perth!
The regatta was open to the Laser Full Rig, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, RS:X, Bic Techno, 420 and 470 classes.
www.perth2011.com
by Perth 2011 Media
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