Media Release
For immediate release
16 September 2003
Competition was pushed up a level overnight with many sailors competing in the ISAF Olympic Sailing World Championship forced to compete with the gusty wind.
Before the day arose on the bay of Cadiz, another very windy night with gusts well over 30 knots was recorded.
The weather forecast at 10.00am predicted winds on the course averaging 22-28 knots, and at approximately 11.30am an AP (postponement) flag was raised for the Yngling and Star fleets with winds gusting over 30 knots.
The first class to head out onto the water was the Mistral Men. Taking all precautions and with a Y flag raised, all sailors were compelled to wear lifejackets. Their race started in a very solid 20-22 knots with 30 knot bullets at the top of the course.
With four Australian’s competing in the Mistral Men’s class, Lars Kleppich (NSWIS) produced the best Australian results in the tough conditions. In race one Kleppich picked up a 13th and improved in race two with a 9th.
"In a day when all starts were delayed, it helped to be big and strong in this weather," reports Mistral Olympian Lars Kleppich.
"Overall I was pleased with my results and look forward to the prospect of racing in good conditions tomorrow," Kleppich added.
Battling against her opponents as well as the strong wind, Australian women’s Mistral sailor Jessica Crisp (NSWIS) was happy to have survived the conditions.
"We had very lumpy conditions with wind against tide which made for difficult sailing. I'm glad to have survived with a couple of reasonable results, " Crisp explained.
Waiting eagerly on shore for the wind to die down, were the Yngling sailors, with racing delayed three hours.
When racing eventually got underway, Melanie Dennison (AIS/VIS), Caroline Aders (AIS/NSWIS) and Fiona Herbert (AIS/NSWIS) came out strong, picking up a 5th in race three.
The X Factor Racing Team now move into the top 10, and are now placed 10 points ahead of Nicky Bethwaite and her YZ Racing Team, who are currently placed 9th.
Coach Dayne Sharp commented on the Yngling crews performance,
"It was a solid day for both teams (the Warne’s didn't sail) in what turned out to be very good sailing conditions, with winds 18-20 knots gusting to 22-23 knots."
The first day of racing for the Star class sailors was postponed, with the race committee certain that the strong winds would cause breakages.
Meanwhile, all the other classes are preparing for racing. Australia’s Head Coach, Victor Kovalenko reported that the 470s have all successfully passed measurement. They are located at Rota at the Northern end of the Bay of Cadiz about 30 minutes drive from Puerto Sherry.
Tomorrow, measurement continues for the Finn, Tornado and 49er’s in Puerto Sherry, the Men’s & Women’s 470 in Rota and the Laser in Cadiz at the Southern end of the bay.
Also, the Europe fleet starts its first round of finals, in what should be good sailing conditions with the easterly air flow prevailing.
Results:
Mistral Men – Day One racing (2 races)
1. Przemek Miarczynski (POL) 2pts
2. Julien Bontemps (FRA) 3pts
3. Alexandre Guyader (FRA) 6pts
17. Lars Kleppich (AUS) 22pts
39. Michael Lancey (AUS) 41pts
71. Jonothan Bonnitcha (AUS) 73pts
96. Corey Plant (AUS) 92pts
Mistral Women – Day one racing (2 races)
1. Barbara Kendall (NZL) 3pts
2. Lee Korsitz (ISR) 5pts
3. Zofia Klepacka (POL) 9pts
5. Jessica Crisp (AUS) 14pts
17. Allison Shreeve (AUS) 38pts
Yngling – Day two racing (4 races)
1. Dorte O Jensen/Helle Jesperson/Rachel Kiel (DEN) 30pts
2. Jody Swanson/Cory Sertl/Elizabeth Kratzig (USA) 31pts
3. Ekaterina Skudinal/Diana Krutskikh/Tatinana Lartseva (RUS) 35pts
8.Melanie Dennison/Caroline Aders/Fiona Herbert (AUS) 44pts
9. Nicky Bethwaite/Kristen Kosmala/Katie Hage (AUS) 54pts
41. Patricia Warn/Margaret Morgan/Joyce Warn (AUS) 166pts
Visit the website for all the latest information on the event http://www.cadizworlds2003.com
For more information please contact:
Simone Green
, Media and PR Co-Ordinator, Yachting AustraliaPhone: (02) 9902 2155
Mobile: 0402 278 178
Email: simone.green@yachting.org.au