Aussie Angels finish ninth at Yngling Worlds

by Courtesy ISAF on 16 May 2004 Going into the final day at the Yngling Worlds in Spain, it looked as though any of six crews could win the Championship, with 10 knots blowing from north-east on the race course; the conditions were perfect for the show down between the crews.

However, it was not only for those trying to win the Championship, but also those in their selection regattas as well as those still trying to qualify their nation for Athens!

The Australian Olympic reps for Athens, Nicky Bethwaite/Kristen Kosmala/Karyn Gojnich finish 24th in their final race to finish a fantastic ninth overall and sixth Nation – edging out their Kiwi training partners by one point and achieving their best result ever in major competition, boding well for their lead-up to Athens in August.

Bethwaite commented, ‘we had our moments during the Championship, I had to rely on instinct quite a bit here when things didn’t feel right. I feel the happiest I’ve felt with our performance here, thanks to our coach, David Adams and Karyn and Kristen.’

A clean start and a good first beat had Shirley ROBERTSON and her crew of Sarah WEBB and Sarah AYTON (GBR) lead round the top mark. They were closely followed by Kirstin WAGNER, Anna HOLL and Veronika LOCHBRUNNER (GER) and Karianne EIKELAND Beate KRISTIANSEN and Lisa FREDIRKSEN (NOR).

Behind them though, the real battles were taking place. Trine PALLADUN, Christina OTZEN and Ida HARTVIG who going into today's racing were fourth overall, rounded in fourth place.

She needed to be at least seven boats ahead of compatriots Dorte JENSEN Helle JESPERSEN and Rachel KIEL (DEN) in order to take the Championship. JENSEN would round in the mid teens with Carol CRONIN, Elizabeth FILTER and Nancy HABERLAND, stuck in the middle of the fleet.

ROBERTSON continued to lead down the run and rounded the bottom mark clear ahead of the rest of the fleet.

The positions did not change up the second beat, and it was again ROBERTSON, followed by WAGNER and PALLUDAN, with EIKELAND in fifth. JENSEN knowing that to follow the fleet would not enable her to make up any places, gybe set at the top mark in search of clear air and to hopefully get back some of the boats between she and the championship.

The Dutch crew of Annalies THIES, whilst having secured their nation and entry to Athens, was now fighting for her selection. However after THIES had a poor start, it was the other Dutch crew of Janneke NIN, Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN and Hanne BUIS in the controlling seat.

ROBERTSON took a comfortable race win from WAGNER in second and BARKOW in third. PALLUDAN finished in fourth and only had to count the number of boats between her and JENSEN.

In the end JENSEN's gamble down the run did not pay off as expected, she and her crew crossing the line in 12th place, with CRONIN one place behind.

So at the end of a very exciting weeks racing, where no one boat has stood out from the fleet, it is Trine PALLUDAN and her crew of Christina OTZEN and Ida HARTVIG who are crowned the Yngling Women’s World Champions for 2004.

JENSEN, who has had a few disappointing results, finished in second place, just two points behind PALLUDAN, with CRONIN third.

Looking to Athens, subject to ratification by ISAF, it is the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Canada who will join the other 12 qualified nations on the start line at Athens in three months time.

For the Netherlands, it is HIN who has been selected to go to Athens, eventually beating THIES by five points overall. THIES will be very disappointed as they had won previous regattas at Palma and Princess Sofia earlier in the year and had been leading for much of these championships.

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

Event Website: www.rcmsantander.com/yngling/index-y-i.htm

Athens 2004: www.athens2004.com

ISAF Athens 2004 Microsite: www. sailing.org/olympics2004


Top ten results:

1 DEN Trine PALLUDAN/Christina OTZEN/Ida HARTVIG 84 2 12 4 14 8 29 15 22 3 4

2 DEN Dorte JENSEN/Helle JESPERSEN/Rachel KIEL 86 4 4 10OCS 6 2 29 17 2 12

3 USA Carol CRONIN/Elizabeth FILTER/Nancy HABERLAND ATKINS 90 31 20 8 OCS 9 1 2 5 1 13

4 USA Sally BARKOW/Carrie HAWE/Debbie CAPOZZI 92 14 BFD 2 15 20 8 4 9 17 3

5 GER Kristin WAGNER/Anna HOLL/Veronika LOCHBRUNNER 94 11 2 14 18 16 14 14 14 7 2

6 NED Janneke HIN/Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN/Hanne BUIS 95 7 6 1 1 28 18 20 11 25 6

7 NED Annalies THIES/Annemieke BES/Petronella De JONG 100 28 3 9 2 2 10 9 30 16 21

8 RUS Ekaterina SKUDINA/Tatiana LARTSEVA/Diana KRUTSKIKH 111 15 8 22 4 5 13DSQ 32 4 8

9 AUS Nicola BETHWAITE/Kristen KOSMALA/Karyn GOJNICH 120 32 1 15 3 29 17 12 10 9 24

10 NZL Sharon FERRIS/Joanna WHITE/Kylie JAMESON 121 1 11 26 10 19 7 23 27 5 19


For full results: www.rcmsantander.com/yngling


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