US champion flies in for Sydney Etchells Worlds 2012 qualifier

3:14 AM Sun 30 Oct 2011 GMT

'Jud Smith (centre) with Mark Johnson (right) and for'ard hand on Roulette at the RSYS on Saturday.' Peter Campbell &copy Click Here to view large photo

Former world champion Jud Smith showed his helming skills sailing with the Sydney International Etchells class fleet racing yesterday on Sydney Harbour. Despite a 24 hour flight delay and an earthquake near San Francisco, plus a 5.30am arrival in Sydney, Smith, from Marblehead (USA) steered Mark Johnson's Roulette into third place in the opening race of the Sydney fleet's world qualifying mini regatta, conducted on the offshore Manly Circle course. He followed this with a seventh and a 13th place in the highly competitive fleet. This was also the first test this summer for the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron which ...

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by Peter Campbell