Mixed day for Irish in storm

The second day of racing at the SPA Olympic Classes regatta ended prematurely yesterday as organisers sought to minimise the damage caused by near gale-force winds on the Isselmeer. Few classes managed to complete the single race of the day.

There was again mixed news for the Irish camp. Europe sailor Maria Coleman seemed to hardly notice the conditions as she took her second fourth place of the series and remains eighth overall. The top 10 places in her class are tightly packed on the points table. Denmark's Kristine Roug and the host nation's Margriet Matthijsse hold the joint overall lead.

Laser sailor Jon Lasenby had a frustrating second day of the regatta as he tried to recover from finishing 99th overall on Wednesday. Yesterday saw him hold a steady fourth place for the first round of the course until a rivet popped in his boom. Trying to avoid retiring completely, he sailed on, but slipped to 24th and after the race had pulled up to 87th place.

The Soling keelboats, without Irish interest, managed to race, while the other fleets were kept ashore by organisers hoping for an abatement. The 470 men's and women's fleet launched and would normally race in such extreme weather; however the race committee was unable to set the course and this class, too, was sent ashore.

David McHugh, crewman on the Irish boat with Tom Fitzpatrick was enthusiastic about the conditions. The pair sailed in this weather for two weeks in France recently and are well prepared. However, the short seas of almost two metres in height but separated by less than that distance took their toll of the boats.

Eleven out 60 470s were dismasted following violent pitchpole capsizes. The damage was not limited to that class - Laser world champion and 1996 Gold medallist Robert Scheidt from Brazil retired after he was dismasted. The regatta is expected to resume its schedule today in better weather.