Sean, defending champion and 2006 North American open champion, made no slip in the failing wind of the final race and finished 7 points clear of his compatriot Griselda Khng who won her ongoing battle with Rufina Tan (MAS) to take the girls prize as well.

But while the globe-trotting Singaporeans took the top spots China showed their strength in depth by placing all five team members in the top ten and with gold in the team-racing championship showed a big improvement on their 2005 results.

Japan and New Zealand anticipated proposals by the IODA Executive and sent lower ranked sailors and while Scott Barnes could not maintain his early form should be well please with his 14th place. Thailand performed solidly and, looking to the smaller fleets it was good to see Korea, Qatar, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and hosts Taipei engaged in their own private battle for places in the top half of the fleet.

Fulong proved an excellent venue with plenty of wind on most days. Tidal currents are a feature of sailing and are expected to be a factor at the Qingdao Olympics. Reports of shore life are very positive and the hosts are to be congratulated on a fine championship.

Results
Website - Great photos!

Day 6
Two further races and the taking of the second discard after Race 10 did little to clarify the leaderboard. Sean Lee, leader since the beginning, is finding it hard to maintain his form but must remain favourite. Two final races scheduled for tomorrow.

Results

Day 5
Team Racing Championship Results

Day 4
Team Racing was postponed after three races due to winds gusting over 40 knots and will now be held on Day 5. This will, it is hoped, still leave two days for the remaining scheduled four individual races with the second discard being taken after race 10.

Day 3
Tricky conditions in the first of the two races sailed had a radical effect on the leaderboard.

"The first leg was good in 12 knots of wind and a current which made it pay to go right. However everyone bunched up again as mark 2 was in a hole with strong current taking boats away. The first batch got through and astute sailors coming in from behind recognised the problem and sailed right round the fleet stuck at mark. On the windward beat in now 6 to 8 kts it paid to go very far right even overstanding the mark to get into weaker current and this again helped those behind to pick up big gains."

The 24 DNFs in this race included top-ranked Singaporeans Griseld Khng and Timothy Seet who, together with leader Sean Lee, had to discard the race. The main beneficiary of the day was Chuancheng Zhou (CHN) who won that race and came 5th in the next one to claim bronze medal position overnight. Also benefitting were three Thai sailors who reached the top 20.

Individual racing is suspended tomorrow Tuesday to allow for the Asian team-racing championships.

RESULTS

Day 2
The second days racing was very challenging for both the sailors and Race Committee with a constantly changing wind direction, gusty winds and a strong current against the wind causing a choppy sea conditions. Three races were completed in an average 14 knots with the strongest gust measured at 26 knots.

Sean Lee (SIN) looked very marginally less invincible but registered three single-digit results to remain in the lead while his compatriots Timothy Seet and Griselda Khng used their discards to stay in touch. The Chinese in general had a better day, especially Lihua Zhang who has moved into 4th place.

The social side of the event is going well with last night's barbeque featuring traditional Taiwanese flying lanterns - seen below with the NZL team.

RESULTS

Day 1
Three races were held in excellent conditions thanks to the fringe of typhoon Kaemi. Race 1 is reported as having 18 knots; Race 2, 16; and Race 3 variable 14-21 knots.

Competition, due to the relatively recent improvement in Asian sailing, is world-class. Singapore and Malaysia have already dominated the South and North American Open Championships and look to be renewing their rivalry here. Sean Lee (SIN) who took gold with eight wins in 12 races at the recent North Americans currently leads Faizani bin Yahaya (MAS) with Timothy Seet, open South American champion in third place. Immediately behind them is a similar contest for the girls' prize between Rufina Tan (MAS) and Griselda Khng (SIN), the gold and silver medallists from the South Americans.

But this is not a two nation race. Just a few points adrift at this early stage are Scott Barnes (NZL) who, ranked 10 at home, will be delighted to find himself in this company, Shunsaku Nishio (JPN) and 2004 IODA world champion Wei Ni (CHN).

The level of the "Asian big four" has not yet been achieved by the other nine countries represented (though Thailand can surprise) and for many the target will be a place in the top half of the fleet. In particular Devin Sanka of Sri Lanka, one of the newest Optimist fleets and sponsored by the hosts, can be proud of his 29th position.

Preparation has been meticulous. PRO Mark Pryke (AUS) has recently give an ISAF Race Management Seminar, the IODA Course Representative is Ajay Balram (IND), chairman of the ISAF Regional Games Committee, and measurement is supervised by Hyo Kyung Jang IM (KOR). IODA vice-president David Booth (RSA) checked out arrangements a couple of months ago and expects a great event.

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