Nicholson and Boyd top ten at 49er Worlds

by Simone Green, Yachting Australia on 18 Apr 2004 Tension is mounting as the 49er crews continue to contest to the 2004 World Championship in Athens, Greece.

With racing abandoned the previous day due to strong winds, crews were eager to compete in the final qualification races of the championship.
All three fleets raced Saturday’s scheduled three races in strong wind - 20-25 knots.

Aussie’s Chris Nicholson and Gary Boyd, who will represent at the Athens Olympics, got off to an excellent start, securing a bullet in the first race of the day, but could not repeat the performance.

The strong winds played havoc in race five and the Australian pair crossed the line in 11th, but picked up to finish Race six in 6th.

Their heir apparents, Victorian brothers Ben and Marcus Tardrew, produced their best results of the championship finishing with a 16th, 3rd and 13th. These consistent results move them up nine places to 49th

It is still anyone’s title, only ten points between the first placed Spanish crew and the 10th place German crew.

Results at this stage are provisional with a number of protests to be heard.

Tomorrow the fleets and separated, the top 49ers will sail off for the top prize in the Gold fleet.

Amended by Sail-World

Provisional Results – Day Three (6 races/1 drop)

1. IKER MARTINEZ/XABIER FERNADEZ (ESP)
(4,1,1,3,1,6) 10pts

2. CHRISTOFFER SUNDBY/FRODE BOVIM (NOR) (2,2,4,2,9,2) 12pts

3. CHRIS DRAPER/SIMON HISCOCKS (GBR) (1,2,4,7,4,3) 14pts

8. CHRIS NICHOLSON/GARY BOYD (AUS) (1,7,7,1,11,6) 22pts

49. BEN TARDREW/MARCUS TARDREW (AUS) (21,19,19,16,3,13) 70pts

Regatta website - http://www.eio.gr/2004_49er/index.html