Black Flag decides winner of Finn Europeans

by Courtesy ISAF on 17 May 2004 When the Black Flag emerged on the second start of the last race at the Finn European Championship in La Rochelle, France, it eventually penalized 11 sailors and handed Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ (POL) the title.

In what was horrifying for some of the Worlds best Finn sailors, the current was pushing them towards the crowded pin end of the line.

Ben AINSLIE (GBR), Sebastien GODEFROID (BEL), Emilios PAPATHANASIOU (GRE), Ali Enver ADAKAN (TUR) and Gasper VINCEC (SLO), were desperately aggressive at the start, despite the risk
At the top mark, those same names were on the Race Committee black board, forcing them to leave the race, scoring a disqualification on the last race of the event – particularly hard in the case of Ainslie and Godefroid.

‘It was such a relief, I could sail my own race,’ declared Kusznierewicz.

‘My only worry was the downwind legs. I had to restrain myself from moving. I have never been so still in the boat, but I couldn’t afford a third penalty.’

Kusznierewicz, who had to retire from Race 5 after receiving two penalties for Rule 42 infringements, would have to retire from the whole regatta should he have received a third one.

Fortunately, he went on to win the final race, while with the second and third placed boats out of contention, Guillaume FLORENT (FRA), who was fourth before the disqualifications, found himself third overall, as Ben Ainslie had gathered enough points to finish the series second overall.

The French sailor was looking good in the top five before the last beat, but chose his fate by going right on the last upwind leg. Dean Barker (NZL) finished fourth in his first European Championship seven points in front of the luckless GODEFROID, who had sat neatly in third place for the majority of the regatta.

Australia’s Anthony ‘Nocka’ Nossiter maintained his performance to finish in 13th place overall in the 90-strong fleet.

The five countries who have qualified for the Olympic regatta are (subject to ISAF ratification): Argentina (Alejandro COLLA 28th), Russia (Vladimir KRUTSKIKH, 29th), Hungary (Balazs HAJDU, 33rd), Austria (Florian RAUDASCHL, 36th), Italy (Michele MARCHESINI, 39th).

For the Prize Giving Ceremony, the Yacht Club invited all the famous French Finn sailors of all time to come and congratulate the World’s best.

Among them, Serge MAURY, Olympic Champion in Kiel in 1972, Didier POISSANT, Olympic Games representative in 1956 in Melbourne, Yves-Louis PINAUD, 1960 in Roma, Gerard de VILLARD, Tokyo in 1964, Philippe SORIA in Mexico in 1968.

Top five results:

1 POL KUSZNIEREWICZ Mateusz 22.00

2 GBR AINSLIE Ben 58.00

3 FRA FLORENT Guillaume 62.00

4 NZL BARKER Dean 73.00

5 BEL GODEFROID Sébastien 80.00

13 AUS NOSSITER Anthony 129.00

Full results are available on the event website at the address below.

Event Website:
www.srr-sailing.com/divers

ISAF Athens 2004 Microsite: www.sailing.org/olympoics2004

Amended by Sail-World