| ROTA, BAY OF CADIZ, SPAIN-(22-9-2003) Ben Ainslie, Olympic gold medallist from Sydney and defending
world champion, moved closer to defending his title and potential Olympic
team selection today as he moved five points clear of his nearest rival at
the Finn class world championships in Cadiz.
If Ainslie should win the title it would be his sixth world title alongside
the two he won in the Laser class, the world youth title, the Laser Radial
title and of course last year's win in the Finn class.
Going into the day leading fellow Brit Andrew Simpson, Ainslie took control
of the first race to lead the fleet home from Guillaume Florent of France
and start to exert some authority on the event but in the second race of the
day the plot took yet another twist as he came in tenth. Spanish sailor
Rafael Trujillo took line honours and moved to within five points of Ainslie
with one race to go tomorrow. Ainslie is now guaranteed a medal position
but the question remains as to whether the colour will be gold.
Ainslie said, `I've got a job to do tomorrow. I can't let them get passed
me so it's going to be a case of taking the opportunities and making sure I
know where they are on the course. All that matters is making sure no one
gets close enough to gain points back.`
In the 49er fleet an impressive day on the water by Team GBR sailor Chris
Draper and 2000 Olympic silver medallist Simon Hiscocks saw them extend
their lead in the first day of gold fleet racing. Scoring a second, sixth
and first place in the three races today, the pair are putting in an
impressive performance in their quest for a world medal and Olympic
selection. With five races left of the championship, fellow British sailors
Paul Brotherton and crew Mark Asquith and Alister Richardson sailing with
Peter Greenhalgh will be looking for a way to close the gap in the final
days of the championship.
Tornado catamaran sailors Leigh McMillan and Mark Bulkeley have continued to
hold off defending champions, Darren Bundock and John Forbes, from
Australia. Scoring a second and tenth against a first and eleventh from
Bundock and Forbes, the British pair now hold a six point lead going into
the last two days. Hugh Styles and Adam May are the next highest placed
Brits in ninth place.
McMillan commented on his position, `Our starting has been good. If you are
not one of the first five out of the start line then you're in trouble.
That's what has been going well for us and helped us get into this
position.`
Christina Bassadone and Katherine Hopson are still on track to qualify the
country for Athens 2004 in the women's 470 class. With three races left to
go they are currently lying in fifth place. Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia
Tsoulfa of Greece have a commanding lead over the class and are currently 22
points in front of the second placed boat.
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