A momentous day in Halifax on the 18' Skud course!

Today was a fantastic day for all of the team here in Halifax as Pete and Rachael, won the first race of the day in a convincing lead over Olympic
gold medallists, Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch, and also the current world champions, the British team..

As reported this evening by Kathy Large in the Media release;

      Australian SKUD sailor wins race, against the odds

 Another individual race victory that took place on the SKUD-18 course today has touched many people at the IFDS Worlds 2014 regatta. Australian Peter Beard and Rachel Cox caught the whole fleet by surprise when they sailed up the middle of the course and beat everyone to the finish line in Race 8.  It was surprising given their earlier results.  But what made it so remarkable is the story behind this team.  Peter Beard is suffering from multiple system atrophy, a neurological disorder for which there is no cure. While in hospital in 2013, he decided to set a goal to compete in the IFDS Worlds as a way of creating a reason to keep living and enjoy his life-long passion for sailing.   Friends and family in the Brisbane area rallied to raise the funds needed to travel to Halifax so he could reach his goal, despite deteriorating health.

 When the other members of the Australian team heard about the victory, they met his boat at the dock with a round of applause as they sailed in and the familiar “Aussie Aussie Aussie” Oi Oi Oi chant.  On the dock, the Australian team that is currently in first place in the SKUD competition,  Liesl Tesch and Dan Fitzgibbon also presented Peter with an Australian Sailing T-shirt to recognize him as an honorary member of the national team.

 

                                                Peter and Rachael on the course..

    

                                                    crossing the finish line...

  

      Members of the Australian Sailing Team cheered and called Aussie ,   Aussie , Aussie as Pete and Rachael arrived at the dock                          

 

 

                                        Pete, cried .. so did a few others ...  

   

                         The Australian team gathered  to offer congratulations

 

 

and an honorary Australian Sailing Team shirt 

                           More photos tomorrow ..
                 the last day of racing followed by the closing ceremonies..

                                  then we are on holiday!