1
|
POL17
|
Mateusz Kusznierewicz
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
21
|
13
|
2
|
BEL7
|
Sebastien Godefroid
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
8
|
19
|
7
|
26
|
3
|
GRE6
|
Emilios Papathanasiou
|
15
|
8
|
4
|
5
|
42
|
1
|
11
|
44
|
4
|
CAN11
|
Richard Clarke
|
11
|
7
|
5
|
90
|
4
|
16
|
4
|
47
|
5
|
CZE1
|
Michael Maier
|
14
|
11
|
11
|
18
|
7
|
3
|
12
|
58
|
6
|
CRO11
|
Karlo Kuret
|
8
|
37
|
6
|
9
|
10
|
8
|
20
|
61
|
7
|
GER79
|
Michael Fellmann
|
9
|
12
|
12
|
15
|
12
|
36
|
2
|
62
|
8
|
SWE7
|
Fredrik Loof
|
1
|
19
|
16
|
4
|
20
|
17
|
10
|
67
|
9
|
IRL8
|
David Burrows
|
6
|
15
|
13
|
20
|
5
|
10
|
18
|
67
|
10
|
TUR6
|
Ali Enver Adakan
|
5
|
16
|
9
|
14
|
21
|
33
|
8
|
73
|
11
|
ITA71
|
Massimo Gherarducci
|
16
|
5
|
19
|
26
|
25
|
7
|
9
|
81
|
12
|
GBR564
|
Andrew Simpson
|
25
|
25
|
7
|
3
|
19
|
28
|
3
|
82
|
13
|
SUI467
|
Peter Theurer
|
20
|
14
|
15
|
90
|
9
|
14
|
16
|
88
|
14
|
GBR577
|
David Mellor
|
2
|
20
|
23
|
10
|
16
|
18
|
75
|
89
|
17
|
SUI1
|
Othmar Muller Von Blumencron
|
15
|
9
|
36
|
21
|
15
|
25
|
13
|
100
|
16
|
NED701
|
Martijn Van Muyden
|
10
|
3
|
10
|
13
|
40
|
29
|
36
|
101
|
17
|
FRA1
|
Xavier Rohat
|
4
|
10
|
8
|
90
|
11
|
27
|
44
|
104
|
18
|
GBR54
|
Iain Percy
|
90
|
90
|
1
|
3.25
|
2
|
9
|
1
|
106.25
|
19
|
ITA14
|
Nenad Viali
|
26
|
18
|
22
|
12
|
34
|
5
|
29
|
112
|
20
|
AUS221
|
Anthony Nossiter
|
13
|
23
|
14
|
27
|
3
|
34
|
59
|
114
|
21
|
NZL27
|
Clifton Webb
|
32
|
21
|
18
|
35
|
31
|
6
|
19
|
127
|
22
|
HUN1
|
Balazs Hajdu
|
22
|
39
|
24
|
25
|
6
|
48
|
15
|
131
|
23
|
DEN143
|
Lasse Hjortnaes
|
19
|
42
|
28
|
30
|
17
|
11
|
26
|
131
|
24
|
ITA1
|
Luca Devoti
|
30
|
17
|
17
|
7
|
30
|
35
|
34
|
135
|
25
|
USA1074
|
Russ Silvestri
|
12
|
28
|
21
|
8
|
90
|
41
|
35
|
145
|
26
|
POL4
|
Dominik Zycki
|
34
|
51
|
20
|
6
|
23
|
22
|
43
|
148
|
27
|
GRE1
|
George Kontogouris (Junior)
|
90
|
34
|
33
|
41
|
24
|
4
|
14
|
150
|
39
|
GBR15
|
Charlie Cumbley (Junior)
|
28
|
40
|
27
|
17
|
27
|
45
|
5
|
155
|
29
|
SUI471
|
Christoph Burger
|
90
|
13
|
43
|
31
|
13
|
31
|
30
|
161
|
30
|
BEL2
|
Philippe Rogge
|
27
|
48
|
42
|
28
|
26
|
26
|
22
|
171
|
31
|
BRA9
|
Christoph Bergmann
|
21
|
29
|
31
|
19
|
35
|
37
|
46
|
172
|
32
|
GBR550
|
Richard Stenhouse
|
40
|
22
|
29
|
11
|
33
|
50
|
38
|
173
|
33
|
CZE9
|
Michal Hruby
|
43
|
30
|
26
|
40
|
53
|
15
|
23
|
177
|
34
|
BRA1
|
Bruno Prada
|
57
|
6
|
44
|
37
|
37
|
13
|
49
|
186
|
29
|
SWE27
|
Kristian Aderman (Junior)
|
35
|
31
|
39
|
90
|
45
|
21
|
31
|
196
|
36
|
BRA109
|
Jorge Zarif
|
35
|
38
|
48
|
23
|
51
|
23
|
33
|
200
|
37
|
FRA7
|
Sylvain Chtounder
|
28
|
4
|
41
|
33
|
43
|
69
|
58
|
207
|
38
|
AUS222
|
PAUL Mckenzie
|
90
|
35
|
25
|
16
|
32
|
39
|
71
|
218
|
39
|
TUR44
|
Akif Muslubas
|
36
|
36
|
53
|
45
|
28
|
61
|
25
|
223
|
40
|
NED7
|
Stefan De Vries (Junior)
|
18
|
33
|
30
|
44
|
44
|
55
|
66
|
224
|
38
|
GBR541
|
Chris Brittle (Junior)
|
41
|
90
|
32
|
34
|
14
|
58
|
52
|
228
|
42
|
GBR567
|
Dan Dixon
|
33
|
52
|
37
|
43
|
36
|
40
|
42
|
231
|
43
|
CAN4
|
Mike Milner
|
90
|
24
|
56
|
32
|
46
|
53
|
24
|
235
|
44
|
USA1026
|
Mark Herrmann
|
24
|
90
|
35
|
36
|
29
|
59
|
53
|
236
|
45
|
RUS8
|
Evgeny Tchernov
|
49
|
41
|
47
|
38
|
41
|
43
|
28
|
238
|
46
|
SUI465
|
Christoph Christen
|
31
|
46
|
50
|
29
|
39
|
62
|
50
|
245
|
47
|
RSA1
|
Ian Ainslie
|
23
|
26
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
20
|
6
|
255
|
48
|
ITA55
|
Walter Riosa
|
52
|
90
|
60
|
47
|
49
|
30
|
17
|
255
|
49
|
GBR12
|
Neil Macgregor
|
51
|
67
|
59
|
48
|
22
|
42
|
41
|
263
|
50
|
ESP260
|
Agustin Juarez
|
59
|
27
|
34
|
42
|
57
|
51
|
63
|
270
|
51
|
NED781
|
Jan-Willem Kok
|
53
|
57
|
90
|
24
|
56
|
47
|
40
|
277
|
52
|
EST8
|
Imre Taveter
|
44
|
54
|
40
|
46
|
54
|
70
|
45
|
283
|
53
|
RUS14
|
Michail Apuhtin
|
47
|
60
|
64
|
52
|
50
|
49
|
27
|
285
|
54
|
FRA111
|
Thomas Deplanque
|
72
|
65
|
66
|
57
|
47
|
12
|
39
|
286
|
55
|
NED744
|
Wiebe Schippers
|
63
|
53
|
54
|
54
|
48
|
24
|
90
|
296
|
56
|
AUT1
|
Hans Spitzauer
|
46
|
90
|
45
|
90
|
18
|
44
|
55
|
298
|
41
|
GBR8
|
Tim Carver
|
41
|
45
|
65
|
22
|
60
|
68
|
90
|
301
|
58
|
ISV1
|
Ben Beer
|
48
|
69
|
51
|
49
|
58
|
63
|
32
|
301
|
59
|
BRA106
|
Fabio Bodra
|
61
|
47
|
52
|
39
|
55
|
56
|
78
|
310
|
60
|
FRA11
|
Mathieu Deplanque
|
37
|
63
|
38
|
53
|
38
|
90
|
90
|
319
|
61
|
CHN1
|
Li Hong Quan
|
42
|
44
|
67
|
90
|
59
|
60
|
51
|
323
|
58
|
RUS7
|
Vladislav Kapitonov (Junior)
|
62
|
70
|
69
|
56
|
64
|
32
|
47
|
326
|
63
|
FRA14
|
Daniel Kurbiel
|
60
|
49
|
55
|
55
|
73
|
52
|
60
|
331
|
64
|
BLR7
|
Vladislav Aleinikov
|
45
|
90
|
49
|
50
|
72
|
54
|
64
|
334
|
65
|
UKR21
|
Sergey Kotov (Junior)
|
50
|
56
|
57
|
60
|
65
|
57
|
90
|
345
|
66
|
GBR560
|
Allen Burrell
|
64
|
32
|
62
|
67
|
67
|
74
|
56
|
348
|
67
|
AUT271
|
Florian Raudaschl
|
54
|
58
|
68
|
69
|
90
|
38
|
67
|
354
|
68
|
NED766
|
Ewout Meijer
|
73
|
72
|
71
|
71
|
71
|
46
|
37
|
368
|
69
|
GER81
|
Jan-Dietmar Dellas
|
62
|
50
|
46
|
58
|
70
|
82
|
90
|
368
|
70
|
NED757
|
Robert De Jong
|
67
|
59
|
63
|
78
|
52
|
65
|
62
|
368
|
71
|
GBR1
|
Sander Kooij
|
56
|
61
|
61
|
51
|
69
|
79
|
80
|
377
|
72
|
IRL10
|
Aaron O'Grady (Junior)
|
55
|
55
|
70
|
61
|
66
|
73
|
70
|
377
|
73
|
NED747
|
Thierry Van Vierssen
|
69
|
73
|
58
|
59
|
68
|
90
|
61
|
388
|
74
|
NED761
|
Cees Scheurwater
|
76
|
43
|
74
|
70
|
81
|
72
|
57
|
392
|
75
|
GBR13
|
John De Leeuw
|
65
|
77
|
72
|
63
|
62
|
71
|
65
|
398
|
76
|
JPN1
|
Takeshi Kuroda
|
71
|
74
|
66.6
|
65
|
75
|
75
|
48
|
399.6
|
77
|
ITA52
|
Franco Martinelli
|
66
|
62
|
75
|
68
|
61
|
76
|
68
|
400
|
78
|
EST3
|
Janno Hool (Junior)
|
74
|
68
|
90
|
73
|
74
|
67
|
54
|
410
|
79
|
UKR7
|
Tsypko Oleg
|
70
|
66
|
73
|
62
|
63
|
81
|
90
|
415
|
80
|
GBR4
|
Russell Ward
|
77
|
75
|
90
|
64
|
78
|
64
|
72
|
430
|
81
|
GBR10
|
Robert Deaves
|
80
|
71
|
76
|
66
|
79
|
78
|
69
|
439
|
82
|
NED730
|
Richard Tobe
|
78
|
64
|
79
|
74
|
80
|
66
|
79
|
440
|
83
|
ROM1
|
Dumitru Fratila
|
75
|
76
|
78
|
77
|
76
|
77
|
74
|
455
|
84
|
GBR51
|
Phil Laycock
|
79
|
90
|
77
|
72
|
77
|
84
|
77
|
466
|
85
|
GBR504
|
Edward Thorburn
|
82
|
78
|
81
|
76
|
82
|
83
|
73
|
472
|
86
|
DEN176
|
Lars Stenfeldt Hansen
|
81
|
79
|
80
|
75
|
83
|
85
|
81
|
479
|
87
|
GBR552
|
Chris Farrell
|
83
|
80
|
82
|
79
|
84
|
80
|
76
|
480
|
88
|
GBR537
|
Adam Cowling (Junior)
|
68
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
518
|
89
|
SWE616
|
Ervin Schomer
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
540
|
2000 FINN GOLD CUP
WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND
11-16 JUNE 2000
Report by Corrine McKenzie
The 2000 Finn Gold Cup, the Junior Gold Cup and Finn World Masters will
be held from the 11th to the 16th of June in Weymouth, England, from the
Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy.
94 competitors will compete in the same fleet for the World Champion and
Junior World Champion titles. It is the biggest fleet since the 1992
Gold Cup in Cadiz where the same numbers were achieved. With the
remaining 8 spots to be allocated to countries for the Olympic Games,
the 2000 Finn Gold Cup has also attracted a record number of countries.
From the 32 countries represented, 15 have yet to qualify for Sydney:
Austria, Belarus, Brazil, China, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Hungary, US
Virgin Island, Japan, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and USA. Wild
cards excepted, this regatta is the last chance for 8 of these countries
to qualify but some National Olympic committees are also requiring a
certain result from their athletes. While Switzerland is only expecting
a top 20 placings, countries like Denmark, Austria or Holland are more
strict. Lasse Hjortnaes (DEN), has to finish top ten in order to compete
in his 4th Olympics (Lasse competed in 1980, 84 and 88). Hanz Spitzauer
(who is making a last minute come back in the Finn after trying to
qualify in the Soling class) and Junior sailor Florian Raudaschl will
have to place in the top 12 (or top 10 in Kiel) to meet their country
selection critiria. Martijn Van Muyden, after qualifying Holland in the
98 Gold Cup has still to do a top 8 placing in Weymouth to secure his
spot in the Dutch team.
Fredrik Loof (SWE) will defend his title for the 3rd time after winning
the Gold Cup in 94, 97 and 99.
With the World best sailors participating (25 of the top 30), it is
expected to be a hard fought championship. Among the favourites are:
Mateusz Kuznierewicz (POL) 1996 Gold Medallist, 98 World Champion, 99 ISAF World Sailor of the Year, No.1 World ranked.
Fredrik Loof (SWE) 94, 97, 99 World Champion, 93, 95, 98 Vice World Champion, No.2 World ranked
Richard Clarke (CAN) Winner of SPA 2000, Hyeres 2000, Palma 2000, No.3 World ranked
Iain Percy (GBR) 99 European Champion, 99 Pre-Olympic champion, No.4 World ranked
Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) 96 Silver Medallist, 98 European champion, No.5 World ranked
Mickael Maier (CZE) No.6 World ranked
Xavier Rohart (FRA) No.7
Mickael Fellmann (GER) No.8
Ian Ainslie (RSA) No.9
David Burrows (IRL) No.10
The Junior Gold Cup was held for the first time in the 1999 Gold Cup in
Melbourne, Australia and won by British sailor, Charlie Cumbley. It will
be disputed this year by 10 Juniors from Belarus, Estonia, Holland,
Greece, Austria and Great Britain who will race with the seniors. Among
the favourites are:
Charlie Cumbley (GBR) 1999 Junior World champion
George Kontogouris (GRE) 1999 Junior World champion
Florian de Vries (NED) 1999 Junior European champion
The 31st edition of the Finn World Masters has attracted a fleet of 92.
Larry Lemieux from Canada will set his goal in winning his third title in a row.
No Gun for Percy
English fairness was proven today! When British top Finn sailor Iain
Percy crossed the finishing line well ahead of the Finn fleet during the
first race of the Finn Gold Cup in Weymouth today, no gun was fired!
Iain Percy had been disqualified among 6 others by the Black Flag
rule. Current World Champion, Fredrik Loof (SWE), wins after fighting
with David Mellor (GBR) during the whole race for second. "Iain sailed
very well and was too far ahead for me to worry about him. I was quite
close behind Dave Mellor in third position and I tried to pass him. I
would have been very happy with a second and I feel sorry for Percy."
commented Fredrik Loof after the race.
Biggest improver of the day, Mateusz Kusznierewicz came out from the
middle of the fleet to round the second windward mark in 5th position.
and finish 3rd. Despite a bad record in medium conditions, Xavier Rohart
(FRA) impressed us with his consistency after making up for his bad
start on the first beat. He rounded the top mark in 5th place and
managed to keep his place until the end. Ali Enver Adakan has not yet
finish to surprise. The young Turk has been improving steadily since the
start of the year. A 6th in the first race of the Gold Cup confirm his
progression.
First Junior is Stefan de Vries (NED) in 18th place.
Six boats were disqualified at the start under the Black Flag rule. With
9 races scheduled and only one discard Iain Percy (GBR), Christoph
Burger (SUI), Christoph Bergmann (BRA), Georg Kontogouris (GRE), Paul
McKenzie (AUS) and Mike Milner (CAN) are starting the regatta with a
serious handicap.
Racing started under the Black Flag at 12PM, an hour later than
scheduled, after a general recall and a couple of postponements. The
racing committee decided on a triangle course despite the conditions:
the wind was averaging 8 to 10 knots and increased to 12 by the end of
the second beat. The sea remained quite flat with a small chop.
Racing will resume tomorrow at 11AM with 2 races.
12 June - (Protests pending)
Atlanta medallists takes the lead of 2000 Finn Gold Cup.
After 3 races, Atlanta Gold and Silver medallists, Mateusz Kusznierewicz
(POL) and Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) are leading the score of the Finn
Gold Cup, in Weymouth, UK.
Their outstanding results in today 2 races, 2nd and 3rd for Mateusz and
a win in the first race followed by a second in the last for Sebastien,
give them a good grip on their opponents. Xavier Rohart is 12 points
behind in 3rd place closely followed by Martijn van Muyden (NED) and
Richard Clarke (CAN).
With another Black Flag collected today in the first race, Iain Percy,
in 65 position, has missed any hope for a title ...unless he wins
tonight his protests against the racing committee for today's and
yesterday's disqualifications. Percy decided to lodge a protest this
morning against the Racing committee, who disqualified him in the race
where he crossed the line first, after Brazilian, Christoph Bergmann,
got reinstated yesterday from his OCS. Christoph's win wasn't
effortless, especially after he had to call for the local Chinese
restaurant owner to translate for his witness Li Hong Quan!
The conditions were quite challenging today with medium to strong wind,
strong current, choppy waves and the arrival of a late thick fog. The
current made sailing especially tricky when the tide changed directions
before the second race.
Race 2 started after a general recall under Black Flag, and the
disqualification of 4 boats (Ian Percy, Walter Riosa, Mark Hermann and
Chris Brittle). Young Italian sailor Massimo Gherarducci came from the
right side of the course to take the lead of the race at the top mark,
followed by Sylvain Chtounder (FRA), Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) and
Martijn van Muyden (NED). Sebastien Godefroid retrieved his down wind
speed and passed Sylvain and Massimo. He kept his advantage to win the
race in front of Mateusz who came from 5th after the first beat to 3rd
at the leeward mark and 2nd. Martijn finished 3rd in front of Sylvain
Chtounder , Massimo Gherarducci and Bruno Prada.
The second race was easily won by Iain Percy out of the start. New UK
Finn champion, Andrew Simpson was second at the windward mark but lost
each time a few places on the down wind legs to end up the race in 7th.
Sebastien Godefroid passed from third to second on the run while Mateusz
went from 9th to 3rd. Emilios Papathanasiou made the most gains, 10th at
the windward mark, the Greek climbed to second at the bottom mark but
lost a couple of places to finish the race in 4th position in front of
Richard Clarke, Karlo Kuret and Andrew Simpson.
The day is not over for the Jury who still have to hear 8 protests. The
results are then, still provisional at this time!
Black Death hits Finn fleet!
While Iain Percy collected his third Black Flag today, Mateusz
Kusznierewicz and Sebastien Godefroid consolidated their position at the
front of the fleet.
The third day of the Finn Gold Cup in Weymouth provided good racing and
a good deal of drama! The Racing Committee raised the Black Flag for the
first start of Race 4, adding a few more heads to the already long list
of "OCS". Bad luck or irony saw Iain Percy on top of the hit list again
for his third disqualification. Despite having lost his protest
yesterday against the racing Committee for his OCS, Iain Percy organised
a crew to film the start today and he hopes that video evidence will
prove him right in his new protest. "The video shows quite clearly that
I am not breaking the line," declared Percy, while waiting for his
protest hearing to take place.
Percy is joined on the Black Flag list by World title favorites Xavier
Rohart (FRA) and Richard Clarke (CAN). With only one discard allowed,
they reduced their chances of a Gold Cup title to leave the path clear
for Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Sebastien Godefroid who each claimed a
race today. Mateusz is leading the score at 8 points after a win and a
second place, and is only 3 points ahead of friend and rival Sebastien.
Despite his OCSin Race 4, Richard Clarke climbed to 3rd, in front of
Greek Emilios Papathanasiou 4th and Xavier Rohart 5th.
Race 4 was started under Black Flag with a good 15 knot breeze.
Sebastien Godefroid won the race from the start. First at the top mark,
the Belgian increased his lead by 100 meters at the gybe mark (triangle
course). Mateusz Kusznierewicz passed from 12th to 3rd, behind Fredrik
Loof on the first reach to get to second on the second beat. They both
sailed further away from the fleet on the second downwind. Andrew
Simpson, 2nd at the first windward mark, managed to keep good speed on
the downwind legs (his weaker point) to finish in 3rd place in front
of Fredrik Loof.
The wind reduced to 10 knots for Race 5, favouring the left side of the
line. Iain Percy had a clear start, went to the left, then crossed
completely to the right to lead all the way until Mateusz passed him on
the last beat. Australian Anthony Nossiter, 2nd at the top mark finished
in 3rd place in front of Richard Clarke 4th and David Burrows 5th.
Balazs Hajdu from Hungary, scored his best result in 6th position.
With 15 countries in contention for an Olympic spot, the battle is
getting fierce for the remaining spots, and with ISAF giving an extra
place to the Finn class there are 9 more places available at this
regatta.
While Turkey, USA, Hungary, Denmark or Brazil are comfortably placed,
China is the 9th country just in front of Austria and US Virgin Islands.
With 4 races still to be sailed, the options are still open.
Only one race is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday 14th.
Percy reinstated!
Iain Percy won last night his protest against the racing committee about
his third disqualification at the start of race 4.
The Jury decided last night to consider video and photo evidence in the
protest for redress lodged by Iain Percy, Xavier Rohart and Hanz
Spitzauer in race 4 for Black Flag disqualification. The decisions made
by the Jury are as follows:
" The following boats were correctly identified on the course side of
the starting line during the one minute before the start: SUI 467,
SWE 27, CAN 11, FRA 1, AUT 1. They broke rule 30.3.
The following boats were incorrectly identified on the course side of
the starting line during the one minute before he start: GBR 54.
Although AUT 1 was incorrectly recorded on the race committee boat as
AUT 4, she was correctly disqualified for breaking rule 30.3.
With respect to FRA 1 and AUT 1, redress is denied.
With respect to GBR 54, redress is granted and she is to be scored
average points of all races she is not OCS, ZPG or DSQ for rule 30.3. "
Therefore, Iain Percy is now 25th on the general results after 5 races
(OCS, OCS, 1, 1.5, 2). The story does not stop here! Iain has asked for
his previous request for redress for race 2 (denied yesterday) to be
reopened on the basis of new evidence in the form of pictures.
These issues reopened the debate of the use of videos by the racing
committee when the size of the starting line and the number of
competitors make calling the line difficult. In last night case, the
video showing the line and the sound track recording the count down, led
to controversy between the sailors, jury and racing committee.
Sailing is postponed today due to strong wind. Race 6 will be resailed
tomorrow.
Mateusz Kusznierewicz wins 2000 Finn Gold Cup
Mateusz Kusznierewicz won the 2000 Finn Gold Cup, as a thick fog
cancelled all racing on the last day of the championship, in Weymouth,
UK. Sebastien Godefroid took the Silver while Emilios Papathanasiou is
settling for Bronze.
In the Junior Gold Cup, the title goes to young Greek George
Kontogouris. He finishes 27th, only 1 place and 5 points ahead of 99
Junior World Champion, Charlie Cumbley (GBR), while Kristian Aderman
from Sweden takes Bronze in 35th place.
Mateusz adds a second World title to his already impressive collection
including a Gold Medal in 96, a World title in 98, and the ISAF Sailor
of the Year award last November. " I achieved today my second goal for
2000. I was hoping for a medal in this year top 3 regattas. I won the
European's and the Worlds, now I hope I can do the same at the Olympic
Games." Despite a strong fleet and very talented opponents, the Pole
never looked threatened. "I came to this championship with a very
different attitude," confided Mateusz. "I decided to sail my own race
without looking at the others. I sailed more freely."
Sebastien Godefroid is a satisfied sailor in second place. After an
unsettled period, the Atlanta Silver medallist and 98 European champion
seems to have retrieved his usual top form, 3 months before the
Olympics. "It was a bit strange for me to sail again at the top! In the
last 18 months I have been more used to sail in the pack and try to
fight my way through the fleet. It is a completely different tactic, and
it feels really good!" Sebastien was working on his equipment for the
last year and seemed to have finally found the right combination." I
received this new mast from Latini, 2 days only before the regatta. I
used it during training for only 10 minutes and was convinced straight
away this was a good one!"
While Sebastien is using a Latini mast with a UK North, Mateusz went
back to his Willet mast after the Wilke mast he used in the European
championships got recently banned from ISAF, and a Victory sail. "I did
not have great speed here compared with the Europeans where I was
flying! In fact I was struggling upwind and I had to catch up on the
downwind legs," revealed Mateusz.
Emilios Papathanasiou in third position is also using the same
combination while Richard Clarke, 3 points away in 4th place remains
faithful to his Willet combined with the San Diego North sail.
The last qualifying regatta for the Sydney Olympics, the 2000 Finn Gold
Cup gave the opportunity to 9 countries to get selected for the Games.
Subject to confirmation from ISAF, the following countries should have
qualified:
Turkey, Hungary, Denmark, USA, Brazil, Russia, Spain, Estonia and
Austria.
Three wild cards will be allocated in the next few weeks at ISAF
discretion.
Among the countries having their national selection, Peter Theurer won
his ticket as the Swiss representative, after a close fight with Othmar
Muller von Blumencron. As for the Brazilian nothing is official yet, but
Christoph Bergmann should stand a good chance to go to his 3rd Olympics
after beating Bruno Prada by a few places.
As for Martijn van Muyden (NED) and Lasse Hjortnaes (DEN) it is now up
to their Olympic Committee to decide if despite not having achieved
their selection criteria (top 8 for Martijn and top 10 for Lasse) they
will be sailing in Sydney. It would be the 4th Olympic Games for Lasse
who participated in 1980, 84 and 88. This regatta called back some old
memories to the Dane who competed in his first Finn Gold Cup in Weymouth
in1979!!
The Finn Gold Cup will be presented tonight to Mateusz Kusznierewicz by
1960 Finn World Champion, Vernon Stratton.