Europe World Championship gets interesting

by Di Pearson on 16 Jul 2004 Eight races have now been sailed at the Europe World Championships continue at the Yacht Club Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy, where the fight for the top five places in the Gold fleet continues, the lead changing once again.

In what seemed impossibility, defending champion and World Ranked No. 1, Siren Sundby (NOR) has stolen the lead from Petra Niemann (GER), whilst Sophie de Turckheim (FRA) is having the time of her career, stealing third place from under the noses of Lenka Smidova (CZE) and Sari Multala (FIN).

Niemann had a great early lead with three wins and a third early in the series, but in what appears to be a psychological battle for the Gold in Athens between Sundby, Niemann, Multala and Smidova, the defending champion has come back with a vengeance.

Meanwhile, de Turckheim, World Ranked 24th and not an Olympic qualifier, is having the time of her life up in third place, whilst her French counterpart and Athens Olympic representative, Rouille Blandine, struggles in 19th place.

Of the Australian’s, Sarah Blanck, who won the title in 2003, has quietly (as is her way) lifted from 12th place and into seventh overnight, with a further win along with eighth and sixth placings.

After a few months in the class, her fellow Victorian, Krystal Weir, at a mere 19 years of age and at her first major Olympic class regatta, has also picked up from 31st to 26th, with a ninth in Race 7 – her future looks excellent, whilst Clare Hozak (AUS) is currently in 24th in the Silver fleet.

Racing in this close fought series finishes on July 17.


No Name Scores

1 NOR Sundby Siren 13,0

2 GER Niemann Petra 25,0

3 FRA deTurckheim Sophie 32,0

4 FIN Multala Sari 32,0

5 CZE Smidova Lenka 34,0

7 AUS Blanck Sarah 54,0

26 AUS Weir Krystal 107,0