The final race of the 2009 2.4mR World Championships is complete. Per
Ahrbom of Sweden was first across the line. Winds were 15-18 knots
with puffs over 20.

The tenth and final race of the 2009 2.4mR World Championship is
underway. The race began on its first start, under an “I” flag, with
no recalls. Wind is a steady 15 knots with puffs of 20 knots.

2008 Paralympic Bronze Medalist John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wis.) clinched the
2.4 mR World Championship on Thursday, with one race to spare. Ruf, a
member of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics’ (USSTAG), won the
44-boat, open fleet, beating 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist Paul
Tingley (CAN) and 2009 IFDS Disabled Sailing World Champion Thierry
Schmitter (NED). Schmitter also won the 2009 2.4 mR National
Championship last week at the same venue.

Held at the Edison Sailing Center on Caloosahatchee River in Ft.
Myers, Fla., the 2009 2.4 mR World Championship included five days of
competitive racing for the world’s best able-bodied and disabled 2.4
mR sailors. USA’s Carl Horrocks also clinched silver Thursday, while
the rest of the competitors have one more race Friday.

From the National Weather Service: NE wind 13 to 15 kt, with gusts as
high as 21 kt. Sunny. Seas around 2 ft.

With two scheduled races plus a make up race for an abandonment
earlier in the series, competitors had plenty of racing time today.
They also had plenty of wind: 13-15 knots that would drop to ten in a
hole, then blast back with 18 in a puff.

By getting back on schedule, Race Committee is back in line for one,
final scheduled race on Friday.

Today’s final race started under Black Flag, which caught Canada’s
Paul Tingley. As it was the tenth race in the series, though, it
became his second throwout with little change to preliminary scoring.

After ten races (and with Friday’s single race remaining):

1. John Ruf, USA (21pts)
2. Carl Horrocks, USA (28)
3. Hans Asklund, Sweden (45)
4. Paul Tingley, Canada (47)

First race is complete; second is underway. And Race Committee plans a
third to even up the schedule from an earlier missed race.

Wind is 12-15 knots with gusts near 20. Even some whitecaps on the course.

There was some drama early in the day as one competitor’s boat
swamped, but a quick visit from a support boat’s pump returned the
river to the outside of the boat.

From the National Weather Service: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
North northeast wind between 13 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21
mph.

Competitors completed all three of Wednesday’s scheduled races.

After seven races in the Championship, preliminary results have only
eight points separating the top four positions.

1. John Ruf, USA
2. Carl Horrocks, USA
3. Paul Tingley, Canada
4. Hans Asklund, Sweden

Today’s second race is underway. First start was a general recall;
second start under “I” flag with a few individual recalls. Wind is
holding steady at 7-9 knots.

Today’s first race is underway. There was one start with a few
individual recalls. Breeze is 8-12 knots.

Three races are scheduled for today.

From the National Weather Service: NE wind 8 to 10 kt. A slight chance
of showers. Seas 1 ft or less.

After a lessening breeze prompted shortening of today’s second race,
competitors and Race Committee waited to see if wind might fill in for
today’s third race. RC determined it would not, and abandoned the
third race.

Competitors were, however, treated to ice cream sandwiches on their
tow back to the Edison Sailing Center.

Preliminary race results are posted via the “Results” link in the left column.

Three races are scheduled for Wednesday.

Photos from the 2009 2.4mR World Championships are being posted at the
“Pictures” link on the left of this page.

Competitors saw today’s second race shortened to four legs as the
midday breeze began to wane.

Today’s second race got underway, but not until two general recalls
prompted a Black Flag start. With only light winds at midday,
competitors had to contend with a full-moon tidal current pushing them
towards (and over) the starting line.

Between today’s first and second race, competitors were treated to an
on-the-water lunch of bratwurst and beer as Edison Sailing Center
turned a pontoon boat into a mobile grilling station.

Tuesday’s racing began on time with an 1100 warning signal. Winds on
the course are from the NE at 6-9 knots.

From the National Weather Service: NNE wind 6 to 10 kt. A slight
chance of showers after 10am. Patchy fog before 10am. Seas around 1
ft.

Preliminary results from today’s two races are available via the “results” link.

First day’s second race ended with (CAN 8) Allan Leibel, Canada in
first place, (CAN 99) Paul Tingley, Canada in second, (SWE 378) Per
Ahrbom, Sweden in third, (USA-88) John F. Ruf, USA in fourth and (SWE
441) Hans Asklund, Sweden in fifth.

The first race of the week-long championship has ended with Paul
Tingley of Canada (CAN 99) in first place.

At 1325, Race Committee lifted the onshore postponement and
competitors headed to the course as a light seabreeze began to
develop.

With a fog that remained on the river until 0930, and a resulting very
light wind, Race Committee has competitors under an on-shore
postponement. Noontime temperature is already 87F, so a developing
seabreeze is likely.