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23 September 2002, 05:35 pm

First Day Postponed Due to Storms

IFDS Disabled World Sailing Championships and Paralympic Qualification

Medemblick

The IFDS World Championship were due to commence today, but had to be delayed due to storm force winds gusting up to 33 knots.

Racing was postponed until 3:00 this afternoon, but when the time approached, the wind had shown no signs of decreasing, so the race organisers made the wise decision to abandon racing for the day.

This 2002 IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championship fields the largest number of entries and countries seen to date at a Worlds, with 23 Sonar's entered and 41 2.4mR. The series consists of nine races for both of the classes, which concludes on Friday 27 September.

The event has even more importance for the competitors, as it is their first chance to qualify their nation for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. In total, the top seven nations in both of the classes will gain an entry for the 2004 Games.

The Worlds follows on from the Dutch Open which took place from 17-22 September and welcomed both Olympic and Paralympic classes, serving as a warm up event for the IFDS World Championship

Both the competitors and race committee will be hoping that the wind will calm down tomorrow and eagerly await the start of the world championships.

Sacha Oswald/ISAF News Editor

Isaf TV

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