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15 Jul 2010	GBR wins IFDS World Championship in SKUD 18
11 Jul 2010	IFDS Worlds Underway
1 Jul 2010	French National Access Class Championships 2010 at Vichy - FRA
12 Jun 2010	Champions Decided at 2010 Access Worlds
3 Jun 2010	SKUD 18 Class Rules Updated
1 Jun 2010	Royal Perth Yacht Club to host Access Class Championships (AUS)

Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (GBR) have won the 2010 IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship in Medemblik Photograph:Sander van der Borch David Staley, Thursday, 15 July 2010 GBR wins IFDS World Championship in SKUD 18 Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell from Great Britain have won the IFDS 2010 World in Medemblik, Netherlands. Today proved they can also play the game with stronger wind, but they had to fight hard for it. The first race was a neck and neck battle with New Zealand, two Australian teams and the USA.  They all took it up to Rickham & Birrell and they finished fifth, their lowest score for the regatta.   In the second race Rickham & Birrell were sailing for gold and finished fourth - good enough the World title. Two points behind were Scott Whitman & Julia Dorsett (USA), who sailed an extremely consistent regatta to claim the Silver Medal. Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox (AUS) won both races today to secure the Bronze position.   The stronger winds on the final day clearly favoured the Australasian teams. Tim Dempsey & Jan Apel (NZL) have been feeling their way through their first major international regatta but revelled in the fresher breezes. Likewise for the second ranked Australian team of Ame Barnbrook & Lindsay Mason who have not competed internationally since the 2008 IFDS SKUD Worlds in Singapore.   Malaysia was another team who put in a very strong regatta in the generally light conditions, only dropping back to 8th after a couple of races in the heavier air.   The 2010 IFDS World Championships were the first Nations Qualifier for the 2012 Paralympic Sailing Competition. With GBR already guaranteed a spot as the host nation, the next top six nations (USA, AUS, CAN, SIN, MAS & NZL) should expect an invitation to compete in Weymouth in two years time.   For full results, daily video bulletins and some great photographs, visit the event website.     Other Links   Event Website Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (GBR) have won the 2010 IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship in Medemblik Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (GBR) had to work hard on the final day to win the 2010 IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship in Medemblik Scott Whitman & Julia Dorsett (USA) finished second in the 2010 IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship in Medemblik Dan Fitzgibbon & Rachael Cox finished third in the 2010 IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship in Medemblik A New Zealand SKUD 18 debut. Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel in Medemblik Colourful racing in the SKUD 18s in Medemblik Ame Barnbrook & Lindsay Mason (AUS) were strong on the final day in Medemblik Vera Voorbach & Arend Pet (NED) - Netherlands makes its SKUD 18 competition debut on home water Norhanisah Che Aziz & Al Mustakim Matrin (MAS) sailed well in the generally light airs Ignacio Robles & Nuria Cueva (ESP) - Spain's first competition in the SKUD 18 SKUD 18 Start Line in Medemblik Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (GBR) have won the 2010 IFDS Two-Person Keelboat World Championship in Medemblik

David Staley, Sunday, 11 July 2010 IFDS Worlds Underway The IFDS Worlds are underway in Medemblik, Netherlands.  This is the first qualification event for the 2012 Paralympic Games.  For news and results, visit the event website. Other Links   Event Website Spain is competing in the 2010 IFDS World Championships in Medemblik Dan Fitzgibbon & Rachael Cox (AUS) are moving up the table at the 2010 IFDS World Championships in Medemblik Close sailing downwind at the 2010 IFDS World Championships in Medemblik Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (GBR) lead the 2010 IFDS World Championships in Medemblik Scott Whitman & Julia Dorsett (USA) are trailing Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (GBR) lead the 2010 IFDS World Championships in Medemblik Scott Whitman & Julia Dorsett (USA) are in second on day three of the 2010 IFDS World Championships in Medemblik SKUD 18s are racing at the IFDS Worlds in Medemblik

French Nationals 2010 at Vichy Photograph:La Voile Ensemble Cedric Castaldi, Thursday, 1 July 2010 French National Access Class Championships 2010 at Vichy - FRA The French Access Class Association are very appreciative of the efforts by the organisers in Vichy to conduct the 2010 National Championships and thank all volunteers and the sailors who had travelled to the event.   While southern France was experiencing devastating floods, the thermometer in Vichy showed only 5 degrees on the Sunday morning. Sailors had the pleasure to see the sun two times for 10 minutes on the weekend and sailed in either very light or very fresh conditions, often with rain.   For the 7th French Nationals, 35 sailors participated including 4 from Australia.   The Access 2.3 Solo was the largest fleet with 13 participants. Australian coach, Chris Ruston ( AUS) finished first overall with Barry Coates (AUS) second and Patrick Parrot (CV Bordeaux) the first French sailor.   In the two-person Access 303 with 7 teams, Frederic Magnier and Jerome Grumetz (CEV of SEA Berck) were first, followed by Michelle Germain / Gerard Acker and Cedric Castaldi / Clementine Breniaux (CYVGL).   In the Access 2.3 two-person fleet, 4 crews came from CEV Berck. Jean Luc Ravaut and Philippe Dram won the title after having dominated the competition. Other Links   Results Link   Photo Library   La Voile Ensemble Website French Nationals 2010 at Vichy

The Access Class Combined World Championships have concluded in the UK Photograph:David Staley David Staley, Saturday, 12 June 2010 Champions Decided at 2010 Access Worlds One final race for each of the five divisions was sailed today in a moderate breeze to conclude the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class Worlds and SKUD18 International Championships at Rutland Sailing Club.   The winners of the two-person divisions sailed this morning had already been decided before the start. Zoltan Pegan / Eva Mircsev (HUN) had posted 4 wins from 7 heats in the Access 303 and Alexandra Rickham / Niki Birrell won every race over the past 4 days in the SKUD 18s.   Placings for the SKUD 18 podium were also fairly certain as the Michael Cogswell / Liz Foreman (GBR) and Jean Claude Mirc / Gerard Eychenne (FRA) had finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in 3 of the week’s races and had established positions on the leader-board. Rickham & Birrell relaxed a little today, enabling Cogswell & Foreman to post a race win. The French team finished back in 5th place this morning but it was enough for them to hold on to the final podium spot.   The 303 two-person competition for 2nd and 3rd was still open going in to the last race. Kenji Sasahara / Yumiko Suzuki (JPN) had maintained their 2nd position since day two but their 8th today dropped them back to 3rd overall, while Andy Garcia/Ian McNair (GBR) moved up a place. Eiko Takashita / Reiko Kato (JPN), another of the 4 Japanese teams contesting this division, won the final heat.    The breeze lightened off a little for the afternoon session in the single-person classes. While Angus MacGregor (AUS) secured his Access 2.3 World Championship yesterday by taking another two wins and building a massive 13 point lead, Monique Foster (GBR) and Bruno Pereira (POR) were one point apart last night but a protest hearing went against Pereira and his 6th today was only enough for the Bronze medal.    Two other Portugese sailors finished in the top ten, a great result for a country that only conducted its first National Access Class Championships this year. The APCA selected their top 5 competitors from the event to travel to Rutland to contest the Worlds.   In the Access 303, Zoltan Pegan (HUN) overnight held a single point margin over Chris Ruston (AUS) who was 4 points clear of Gerard Eychenne (FRA). Ruston finished two places adrift of the Frenchman, but it was enough.   “I was not prepared to take on Zoltan today and risk it all”, said the Australian. “I was happy to stay close to Gerard and make sure I held my overall position”.   Magali Moraines (FRA) led the Liberty fleet into the final day from two Australians, Chris Cook and Barry Coates. Cook took the race win, but with Moraines following him across the line, the Championship went to France, with Australians in 2 and 3.   In the Servo divisions, Melvin Kinnear (GBR) had dropped back to third in the Liberty last night but his win today elevated him to equal points with Wilma van den Broek (NED. The tie break went in favour of Kinnear, with one more win during the week. Vera Voorbach (NED) was third. Martin Waller (AUS) won in the Access 2.3 servo.   Rutland Sailing Club and the volunteers of Rutland Sailability have made competitors welcome and comfortable ashore, and the race management team led by PRO Ralph Tingle has done an excellent job in at times difficult conditions. Along with the UK Access Class Association volunteers, they were thanked by IACA President Terry Peek at the presentations ceremony where the major prizes were awarded by Penny Wake for the major event sponsor, the Bruce Wake Trust.    It was also announced that the next Access Class Combined World Championships will be held at Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney, Australia in April 2012. Other Links   Event Website   Results   Fotoboat Photos Angus MacGregor (AUS) 2010 Access 2.3 Open World Champion Monique Foster (GBR) was very happy with second place in the World Championships Zoltan Pegan (HUN) has won the Access 303 Single Person World Championship Magali Moraines (FRA) has fought hard all week and has won the Access Liberty Open World Championship Melvin Kinnear (GBR) has won the Access Liberty Servo World Championship Zoltan Pegan & Eva Mircsev (HUN) have won back to back World Championships in the Access 303 Two Person class Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (GBR) have won the 2010 SKUD 18 International Championship The Access Class Combined World Championships have concluded in the UK

David Staley, Thursday, 3 June 2010 SKUD 18 Class Rules Updated The SKUD 18 Class Rules have been revised and are now available for download. Other Links   SKUD 18 Class Rules - June 2010

Royal Perth Yacht Club - Host to the 2011 Australian & Asia-Pacific Access Class Championships Photograph:David Staley David Staley, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 Royal Perth Yacht Club to host Access Class Championships (AUS) The Australian and International Access Class Associations have just announced the 2011 Australian Access Class Championships will be held concurrently with the Asia-Pacific Championships.  The combined events will be hosted by Royal Perth Yacht Club in Western Australia during Easter, from Friday April 22 through Monday April 25 next year.   RPYC host the annual State Access Class Championships and have a strong Sailability program.  The Club has also conducted a variety of World and Australian Championships over the years for a range of classes, and hosted the 2006 IFDS World Championships. The State’s premier keelboat club, RPYC is located on the beautiful Swan River close to Perth’s CBD, has a large and accessible clubhouse and a modern floating marina.   Competitors will be arriving from most Australian States along with sailors from New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.  Single-person competition will be held in the Access 2.3, 303 and Liberty classes.  Two-person competition will be held in the Access 303 and SKUD 18.    Whilst conducted as an open event, the majority of sailors competing in the Access Championships have some form of disability, many using wheelchairs for mobility ashore.  But once afloat, their speed and tactics match any able-bodied competitor.  Several aspiring Paralympians and past Access Class Champions are sure to be in Perth for the event.    Access sailors of all ages and abilities from around the region will now be looking forward to competing in Perth and enjoying in the moderate autumn breeze conditions.  Competitors from Japan have already confirmed they will be attending, so it is hoped that international entries will provide a strong boost to the Championships fleet.   The Official Notice of Race is now being developed and this should be available in early September.  Look out for information on the class website www.accessclass.org or visit the Royal Perth Yacht Club website www.rpyc.com.au.     For information in the meantime, contact:   Australian Access Class Association David Staley: david@accessclass.org / +61 3 9768 3101   Royal Perth Yacht Club Graeme Handley: boatingoperations@rpyc.com.au / +61 8 9389 1555 Other Links   Royal Perth Yacht Club Royal Perth Yacht Club - Host to the 2011 Australian & Asia-Pacific Access Class Championships Royal Perth Yacht Club Dock Facilities Access 2.3s racing at the 2010 Australian Championships Access 303s racing at the 2010 Australian Championships Access Liberties racing at the 2010 Australian Championships SKUD 18s racing at the 2010 Australian Championships