| GDYNIA, POLAND-(3-6-2005) Team GBR sailors Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield have arrived in Gdynia, Poland for the 40th 470 European Championships with only one thing on their minds, to defend last years’ well earned title.
Fresh from taking time out since their Silver medal win at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the pairing are looking on good form after winning their first event this year. Last month’s RYA Olympic Ranking Event, a two day event held on Hayling Island, saw the pair win five out six races to take the win comfortably.
Team GBR names to watch in the men’s fleet include Nic Asher and crew Elliot Willis, who are keen to continue their winning ways after taking first place at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma. Also part of the new generation of young British 470 sailors are Luke Patience and Chris Grube, recently finishing 13th at the Holland International Regatta.
Other European competition comes from 1995 World Champion Andreas Kosmatopoulos from Greece. Bringing a wealth of experience to this year’s competition, he will be competing in his 15th 470 European Championships, with his new crew Andreas Papadopoulos.
In the women’s fleet, the competition is likely to be just as tough as everyone will be looking for a good result prior to the 470 World Championships, taking place in San Francisco this August. Pippa Wilson and Sheena Craig look to be on great form after finishing first in the women’s fleet at Hayling Island and sixth at the Holland International Regatta. Other team GBR names to watch include Melissa Heppel and Rebecca Marriott and 2004 Olympic representative Christina Bassadone, who after finishing seventh at the Olympics, has paired up with new crew Saskia Clark.
Internationally, the Swedish will be providing tough competition in the form of Athens Olympic Bronze Medallists, Therese Torgersson sailing with Vendela Zachrisson and from the French Team women’s captain and world number one, Ingrid Petitjean and Nadège Douroux.
The qualifying series for the European Championships commences 8 June through to 10 June. Six races will be sailed per group over the three days. The qualifying series will be prolonged for groups not having sailed four races within the three days or for groups not having sailed the highest number of races by a group.
The final series starts on 11 June through to 14 June. There will be eight races per group over the four days, with no more than three races a day. At least one race per group will take place on the last day.
Results can be found on the official website www.euro470.pl and a final event release will be issued on 14 June.
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