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5 October 2005, 11:00 am

Tough First Day

IFDS Single-Person Dinghy World Championship 2005

San Felice Circeo, Italy

The Sabaudia's Cup and IFDS Single Person Dinghy World Championships got under way in San Felice Circeo, Italy where sailors with disabilities from nine countries sailed the colourful Access Liberty's. Conditions were difficult for the 21 sailors with a nine knot breeze and battling with one to two metres confused wave action.

Nine sailors with severe disabilities competed for the IFDS Single-Person Dinghy World Championship using full servo assist winches to control helm and main and jib sheets. These sailors utilise their best moving body part to operate their joysticks, demonstrating their skill and determination in a joyous exhibition of their resolution to succeed. These nine sailors and the remaining fleet are all contesting the Sabaudia's Cup.

In the Worlds, Australia's Colin JOHANSON holds the lead, whilst he is third overall in the Sabaudia's Cup stadings. Portugal's Bento AMARAL and Fernando PEREIRA complete the top three in the Worlds' leaderboard, although there is still plenty of racing to come in Italy.

Top Ten After One Race

Pos	Nation	Helm	R1	Pts
1	AUS	Colin JOHANSON	1	1
2	POR	Bento AMARAL	2	2
3	POR	Fernando PEREIRA	3	3
4	AUS	Maria DALMON	4	4
5	USA	Fred HESS	5	5
6	AUS	Lindsay DALMON	6	6
7	USA	Herb MEYER	7	7
10	AUS	Bill BRADLEY	DNS	10
10	GRE	Panayotis TSINGANOS	DNS	10