Grael wins Olympic Stars with a day to spare

by Bob Ross on 27 Aug 2004 Brazilians Torben Grael and Marcelo Ferreira, who showed an uncanny ability throughout the regatta to pick the wind shifts, with an 11th in race nine and fourth in race 10, today won the Star class without having to start in race 11 on Saturday.

Second overall with 47 points are Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau (France) with the Canadians Ross Macdonald/Mike Wolfs (Canada) on 49.2.

Australians Colin Beashel placed 14-6 today and are 12th overall.

The Brazilians’ scoreline spells a message of consistency: 5-4-1-1-2-5—7-11-4.

The gold was the second for Grael and his fifth Olympic medal. He won the gold medal in the Star class at Savannah in 1996, the silver medal in Solings at Los Angeles in 1984 and bronze medals in the Stars at Pusan in 1988 and Sydney in 2000. Ferreira was with Grael in Savannah and Sydney.

Grael sailed as tactician in Patrizio Bertarelli’s Prada America’s Cup campaigns in both 2000 and 2003. He said the America’s Cup commitment had shortened his preparation for Sydney, leaving him and Ferreira without the rhythm and strength they had this time with proper preparation.

He said that Bertarelli had sponsored his Olympic campaigning since 1997. Prada’s meteorologist was one of three sources of weather information he and Ferreira had used for the Saronic Gulf.

The other two were the Brazilian Navy and the local Greek service. ‘We would compare them and see which one was closer to what was happening and then we will trust this one more,’ said Grael. ‘Also I had the privilege of having on my coach boat my brother Lars, making very good observations and making very good tips on what the weather was doing.’

Why had they been able to pick the random wind shift patterns so well? ‘The place where we learned to sail in Rio is a small bay with a lot of hills alongside which make the wind very shifty. We are used to that. So when we go to places where the wind is shifty, we feel comfortable.

‘We sailed here last year and we were happy about that because these are the conditions we like to sail.’

Grael said that although was unable to do more than five big championships each year abroad, luckily the Star class in Brazil was very competitive. ‘We have about 25 boats at the biggest championships. It is not a very big number but it is a very good level fleet so it is not easy to win there and that makes us better sailors.’