Paul blows the rust away in Melbourne

Reigning laser sailing European champion and Team Volvo for life sailor Paul Goodison has made a winning return to championship racing at the Asia Pacific Championship held during the Sail Melbourne Regatta in Australia 14 – 19 Jan 2008.

Despite a three month layoff due to a broken wrist Paul managed to beat the worlds leading laser sailors to claim the title. Paul got off to a brilliant start on the first day of racing finishing third and first. The lack of race practice showed on the second day with Paul sliding down the leader board into 11th place. Undeterred by the results, he came back fighting and finished in the top three of the next four races and went into the deciding day’s medal race in second place overall, on equal points with world champion Tom Slingsby (AUS). On the final Paul showed his class finishing second in the medal race with nearest rival Slingsby behind in seventh place, meaning the Asia Pacific Championship title was secure.

Paul was pleased with the result “It’s been quite a surprise to be competing so well so soon, I am still pretty poor at the boat handling as my wrist is a little restricted due to wearing a brace whilst racing and I’m suffering a little bit from lack of fitness in the boat but I have really enjoyed the racing and it’s great to be back in the boat again, the rust seems to be falling off bit by bit”

Sailing out of Royal Brighton Yacht Club the Asia Pacific Championships is a crucial event for sailors looking for preparation ahead of the Laser Worlds held in Terrigal Australia (5 – 13 Feb 08). With just five days sailing before the event, Paul has definitely shown he is one of the men to beat in Beijing this summer. Goodison who won the Olympic test event in Qingdao China last year is a light air specialist and with average conditions looking anything but gusty a medal is a real prospect