SAILING: TWO ESSEX sailors are taking on the cream of Australia’s racers in the Musto Skiff class world championships, writes Frazer Clark.

The sailors are former King John School sixth form pupil Dan Henderson, 20, from Benfleet and Ronny Burns, 51, who lives in Wickford.

Henderson – whose sail number in Melbourne is GBR409 – has spent the last few days on the water, working on his boat speed in conditions which are wildly different from those on the Thames Estuary.

He said: “I have been training with the Aussies from Sandringham Yacht Club, the club just down the bay from Black Rock which is where the world’s is being held.

“For the last five days the breeze has been quite big – at times reaching a stable 25 knots. My upwind pace in the big waves hasn’t been too quick compared to the top Aussies. However, this is what I sort of expected as I’m shorter and lighter than them all.”

The youngster – who is at Portsmouth University studying Watersports Science – has a distinct advantage in the lighter winds.

He said: “We had about 5-8 knots of wind, and my boat speed was better than everyone around me. Hopefully we will have some days like today in the regatta itself.”

The pre-world’s regatta an event held immediatedly before the world’s proved a happy hunting ground for Dan who was placed second, only losing out to the experienced Ian Renilson. Ronny Burns was 23rd from 38 starters.

The series preceeded the world’s proper which begins today.

Henderson is an experienced sailor who, in the past, has been a member of the Royal Yachting Association’s 29er, Feva class and Optimist national squads. His father is Chris Henderson who worked at Hyde Sails in Benfleet for 27 years before setting up Battlesbridge-based Blue Marine, a marine fabrics company.