| ROTA, SPAIN-(24-9-2003) Today, the last races took place as conclusion of the 470 Men and 470 Women’s Worlds as part of the ISAF World Sailing Championship 2003. Lots of pressure was on the “to date” overall leaders who had to defend their positions.
Racing was postponed in the early morning due to a lack of wind. When a sea breeze came up, an attempt was made to start the final race of the Men. The tensed Fleet went over the starting line too early, which resulted in a general recall. Fortunately, while two minutes later the wind left the race course.
After some time of waiting, some light winds came up, shifting between a Levante and a light see breeze. As the wind direction got steady, the start of the final race became a fact.
Eugeny BRASLAVETS / Igor MATVIENKO (UKR) were the first ones to round the upper mark, followed by Benjamin BONNAUD / Romain BONNAUD and Russia’s Dmitri BEREZKIN / Mikhail KRUTIKOV, but no sign yet of the Italian, Spanish or Australian Men who were fighting the main competition for the Title..
This battle seemed to take place more behind in the Fleet. Italy’s Gabrio ZANDOA / Andrea TRANI came around the upper mark in about 12th position, being lucky that his rivals for the Title were way back behind. Alvaro MARTINEZ / Dimas WOOD rounded the mark at about 24th and Nathan WILMOT / Malcolm PAGE fighting the last spots with about three boats behind him.
Coming to the downwind gate, it was obvious on which high level these Men where playing the game. The whole Fleet approached the downwind mark in one group, close together, which caused a lot of yelling and struggling to get through the bottleneck and proceed the race upwind.
The Italian boys managed to fight their way up a little to finish at a 9th position while the Spanish were set back into the Fleet closing the end of the Fleet with a 32nd position. The Australian guys were able to take advantage of this situation and ended 27th, which was enough for Silver in this Championship.
“You know what I said earlier” said Gabrio laughing, with which he meant his earlier words that is wouldn’t become an easy job to retain the same lead as where he started with by obtaining a 15th position at the 10th race that endangered there position yesterday.
One thing that got clear in the progress of this Championship is the power of Greece’s Sofia BEKATOROU / Emilia TSOULFA.
The battle today was for the Silver and Bronze, without the presence of the Queens of the 470 that have just become World Champions for the fourth time in a row.
Just like in the Mens’s Fleet, a lot of lower overall ranked Ladies were present in the front of the Fleet at the last final race.
Ingrid Petitjean / Nadege Douroux from France were able to take advantage of this situation and although they had an 11th position, they were able to retain Silver. Jenny Armstrong / Belinda Stowell from Australia were less lucky and gave away their Bronze to Vlada Ilienko / Nnatalia Gaponovich from Russia.
The championship has been concluded very successful. At 8pm tonight the prize giving ceremony will take place and the 470 Men and Women World Champions 2003 will be crowned.
For complete results, visit the event web site at www.cadizworlds2003.com
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