Hagara takes NZ Open Tornado Championships

by Sail-World on 6 Feb 2008
2004 Olympic Gold medalist Ramon Hagara (Austria) has taken the New Zealand Open Tornado Championship, sailed off Takapuna.

Sailing with crew Hans Peter Steinacher, Hagara improved as the series progressed only once finishing out of the top three, after the first day of racing. They scored three wins and four seconds to pass the overnight leader Xavier Revil and Christophe Espagnon (FRA) and take the title. Santiago Lange and Carlos Espinola (ARG) were third.

Hagara's win in the event will be encouraging for Austria, who failed to make the cut in the first round of 2008 Olympic qualification in the 2007 World Championships in Cascais, Portugal.

The series was a wakeup call for the New Zealanders aiming for the World Championships at the same venue starting on 22 February.

With a vital Olympic qualification place on the line, the top New Zealand crew of Aaron McIntosh and Mark Kennedy, were 10th overall in the 17 strong fleet. This crew only just missed making the qualification for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, however they would appear to have some work ahead of them.

The fleet was of a high standard with Carolijn Brouwer and Sebbe Grodefroid (BEL), runners up in the 2007 World Championships, finishing in sixth place overall.

Many of the top competitors were not competing due to the delay by a day or two of the container bringing competitors across the Tasman from the just completed Sail Melbourne Regatta, meaning they will go into the World Championships without a preliminary regatta under their belts.

For full coverage of the 2008 Tornado Worlds see www.takapunaworlds.org

2008 TORNADO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL Results