Palm Beach Sailing Club

	2008 Tiger Worlds - Sept 29 to October 1st 2007 “As the clock ticked this morning, sailors sat inside the party tent and played cards or socialized. Meanwhile, Laruffa and Sims were close to their first World Title ever. Mitch Booth and Tiffany Baring-Gould, representing the Netherlands, were only one point behind, so they were very keen to go. They got their chance in the afternoon, but patience was still needed. There were two general recalls. Laruffa: "That was nerve-racking, because I knew we were running out of time. They hoisted the black flag and it was pin-end favoured, so that was tricky. It could be all over at the start. Mitch was right at the pin and was leading at that moment." Booth and Baring-Gould came first at the top mark, but had a problem with the spinnaker hoist. Laruffa and Sims rounded in tenth position, so at that stage the Dutch team was winning the regatta. Booth: "Unfortunately, the spinnaker halyard got stuck behind the spreader, so we lost three boats. Near the bottom mark, we dropped the spinnaker sheet, so that cost us another three boats. We went from first to seventh and it was all over after this downwind. Emotional win According to Laruffa, they had a good first spinnaker hoist and caught two boats. Sims: "Everybody went to shore and we were just behind Shaun Ferry. We did not want to go over him, because that would limit our options. We slowed down and gibed away." Halfway through the run, the Australians gibed back to cover on Mitch. They gained another three competitors at the gate and rounded the left hand mark. Sims: "Mischa chose the other side and Mitch followed us, which was good. We just had to keep him behind us, so we tacked when he tacked. We actually wore different shirts today, so Mitch would not recognize us on the course." Laruffa and Sims finished third and won the Hobie Tiger World Title 2008. Sims: "This is Mark's first win in 27 years of trying." Laruffa: "I had to be careful not to cry at the finish. My partner at home is in tears." Although Laruffa has finally achieved his goal, he does not speak about retiring: "It is only starting. This time I did not party during the championship."

2008 Tiger Worlds - Sept 29 to October 1st 2007

“As the clock ticked this morning, sailors sat inside the party tent and played cards or socialized.

Meanwhile, Laruffa and Sims were close to their first World Title ever. Mitch Booth and Tiffany Baring-Gould, representing the Netherlands, were only one point behind, so they were very keen to go.

They got their chance in the afternoon, but patience was still needed. There were two general recalls. Laruffa: "That was nerve-racking, because I knew we were running out of time. They hoisted the black flag and it was pin-end favoured, so that was tricky. It could be all over at the start. Mitch was right at the pin and was leading at that moment." Booth and Baring-Gould came first at the top mark, but had a problem with the spinnaker hoist. Laruffa and Sims rounded in tenth position, so at that stage the Dutch team was winning the regatta.

Booth: "Unfortunately, the spinnaker halyard got stuck behind the spreader, so we lost three boats. Near the bottom mark, we dropped the spinnaker sheet, so that cost us another three boats. We went from first to seventh and it was all over after this downwind.

Emotional win

According to Laruffa, they had a good first spinnaker hoist and caught two boats.

Sims: "Everybody went to shore and we were just behind Shaun Ferry. We did not want to go over him, because that would limit our options. We slowed down and gibed away."

Halfway through the run, the Australians gibed back to cover on Mitch. They gained another three competitors at the gate and rounded the left hand mark.

Sims: "Mischa chose the other side and Mitch followed us, which was good. We just had to keep him behind us, so we tacked when he tacked. We actually wore different shirts today, so Mitch would not recognize us on the course."

Laruffa and Sims finished third and won the Hobie Tiger World Title 2008. Sims: "This is Mark's first win in 27 years of trying."

Laruffa: "I had to be careful not to cry at the finish. My partner at home is in tears." Although Laruffa has finally achieved his goal, he does not speak about retiring: "It is only starting. This time I did not party during the championship."