24 August 2009

Be Number 1 sailor Paul Goodison was once again left kicking his heels in frustration after there was no racing at the Laser World Championships - the one major title that has hitherto eluded the 31-year-old Yorkshireman - on St Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia for the second day in a row.

A brush with Hurricane Bill yesterday forced organizers to store 196 Laser hulls inside two buildings at the St. Margaret Sailing Club. The boats were unpacked early today, but St. Margaret’s Bay did not live up to its reputation for steady afternoon sea breezes. Instead, the fleet floated around the race committee boat waiting for the wind to fill in, but it never did. At one point, disappointed athletes began hitting the hulls of their boats with their tiller extensions, the drum beat echoing across the water, almost calling to the wind.

"It’s disappointing to lose two days of racing," said event manager Duncan Enman. "It happens sometimes and just means we will try to get in more races in the next two days. Having a day without wind on St. Margaret’s Bay, this time of year, is almost unheard of."

While athletes were disappointed with the lack of racing, they also recognize there is not much that can be done. The forecast for tomorrow is for winds of 10 to 15 knots (20 to 32 kilometres per hour).