Aussie Women Mistral Sailors Put in Top Performance at ISAF World Championship

Media Release

For immediate release
17 September 2003

As the 2003 ISAF Sailing World Championship in Cadiz continues some Australian’s, such as the Mistral women, are feeling the highs of the world class competition, while others, like the Stars are experiencing the lows of equipment failure.

The expected forecast for the course area was ESE winds of 12-20 knots with maximum winds predicted for later in the afternoon, however all courses recorded winds above the forecast.

The stand out performance overnight came from the NSW Institute of Sport athletes, Jessica Crisp and Allison Shreeve.

At last a bullet for the Australian team, with Jessica Crisp (NSWIS) winning the first Women''''s Mistral race of the day.

‘It was a great feeling to be at the front of the fleet considering the strong wind. I am pretty happy,’ Crisp reports.

By the time the second race was contested, the winds had increased a further five knots, yet Crisp managed to finish 10^th. An excellent day for Crisp takes her to third place overall.

Allison Shreeve (NSWIS) also had a great day with a 4th and 2nd just being pipped on the line. These consistent results move Shreeve up the board nine places, to now lie in 9th position overall.

‘I was pleased with my starts and I worked on keeping my air clear and sailing fast,’ an excited Shreeve explained.

After day one racing was abandoned yesterday, the Star class were greeted with an excellent opening day, with wind of 10-14 knots. Three races were held to catch up on yesterdays racing.

It was a tough day for Star class sailors Colin Beashel (AIS/NSWIS) and David Giles (AIS/NSWIS), who following a credible 9th in their first race, dropped a mast and had to race back to shore to retrieve a spare.

Unfortunately their efforts to make the third race were in vain, missing the start by about four minutes.

‘You’d certainly be hoping to qualify Australia with these two. This is the hard luck story of the day and with only one drop it’s going to be tough,’ Australian Team Manager Grame Roberts-Thomson explained.

Still with the Star class, Iain Murray (NSW) and Andrew Palfrey (VIC) the best of the Australians, had a solid day with a top ten finish in the last race. They are currently lying 26th overall.

On the first day of finals in the Europe fleet, Sarah Blanck (AIS/VIS) finished with a 10th and 29th in the gold fleet. Blanck escalates four places to 24^th overall.

"Sarah’s first race was a good close race but the second was disappointing," witnessed Roberts-Thomson.

Tonight will see the start of the Finn races and the Tornado, while the 49er, Laser and 470 will start on Thursday. The Ynglings will have a rest day and the Europe fleet will enter their second last day of competition.

1. Lee Korsitz ISR (1,4,3,6) 14pts
2. Barbara Kendall NZL (2,1,12,5) 20pts
3. Jessica Crisp AUS (4,10,1,10) 25pts
9. Allison Shreeve AUS (24,14,4,2) 44pts

1. Ulrike Scheumann/Wibke Buelle/Winnie Lippert GER (15,27,1,1,13,2) 32pts
2. Hannah Swett/Joan Touchette/Melissa Purdy USA (16,12,2,7,1,10) 32pts
3. Jody Swanson/Cory Sertl/Elizabeth Kratzig USA (3,1,11,16,7,11) 33pts
9. Melanie Dennison/Caroline Aders/Fiona Herbert AUS (6,20,4,13,26,7) 50pts
16.Nicky Bethwaite/Kristen Kosmala/Katie Hage AUS (11,11,18,14,25,19) 73pts
41. Patricia Warn/Margaret Morgan/Joyce Warn AUS (41,41,DNC,DNC,39,39) 202pts

1. Siren Sundby NOR (1,1,3,5,2,3,15,1) 16pts
2. Lenka Smidova CZE (2,8,5,8,3,4,7,10) 37pts
3. Trine Julie Abrahamsen DEN (3,7,7,2,7,24,9,9) 44pts
24. Sarah Blanck AUS (11,18, DNC,23,12,12,10,29) 115pts
92. Clare Hozack AUS (38,42,44,43,DNE,26,14,38) 260pts

1. Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rembeau FRA (1,2,DNC) 3pts
2. Fracesco Bruni/Guido Vigna ITA (1,2,DNC) 3pts
3. Flavio Marazzi/Enrico De Maria SUI (8,1,DNC) 9pts
26. Iain Murray/Andrew Palfrey AUS (16,13,DNC) 29pts
51. Colin Beashel/David Giles AUS (9,DNC,DNC) 52pts
52. Ian Walker/Nick Williams AUS (OCS,10,DNC) 53pts
59. Michael Jones/Bill Sykes AUS (34,25,DNC) 59pts

1. Przemek Miarczynski POL (1,1,1,8) 11pts
2. Joao Rodgrigues POR (4,3,3,1) 11pts
3. Julien Bontemps FRA (1,2,7,3,) 13pts
38. Michael Lancey AUS (21,20,18,25) 84pts
46. Lars Kleppich AUS (13,9,17,OCS) 99pts
88. Corey Plant AUS (46,46,37,40) 170pts
89. Jonothan Bonnitcha AUS (36,37,50,47) 170pts

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 Australia

Phone: (02) 9902 2155
Mobile: 0402 278 178
Email: simone.green@yachting.org.au