Results confirmed after drama in Tornado Worlds

by Richard Gladwell on 19 Jun 2005 The 2005 World Tornado Championships in La Rochelle have ended on a dramatic note, with the series winner being involved in a three hour redress hearing. The final race scheduled – Race 10 was cancelled due to light winds.

Kiwi 2000 Olympic Boardsailing medallist, Aaron Macintosh who has teamed up with 2004 Bronze medallist in the Tornado, Argentinean Carlos Espinola , finished in sixth place overall. They finished seventh in the final race. Macintosh was the top Antipodean with four times World Champion Darren Bundock and crew Aaron Worrall finishing 14th overall after catching a dose of the Black Flag disease at the start of race 9. Second Australian crew was the combination of Glenn Ashby and Andrew Williams who finished in 9th in the final race and lifted to 19th on overall points. The pair had a good run home in the regatta, with top ten placings in the final two races. Not so good news for the third Australian crew of Robbie Lovig and Glen Douglas who were 38th of 41 finishers and slipped to 40th overall. Kiwi pair of David and Susan Williams out of Nelson finished with their best performance of the regatta in 27th place – which hauled them up to 51st on overall standings.

The ninth race had nothing less than 23 boats black-flagged, including provisional leaders ESP Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz, which, at that point, cost them the title. The Spanish team entered the last day of the event with 11 points separating them from runner-up GBR Leigh McMillan and Will Howden. The situation changed dramatically with his black-flag disqualification coupled with the second place the British got in the race – putting Team GBR’s McMillan and Howden 23 points ahead.

Toni Rivas and Fabian Escude (ESP) won the race and another Team GBR Hugh Styles and Graham Vials, third.

The conditions again were similar to yesterday: sea-breeze 8 to 9 knots. But the wind dropped and Race 10 started under shifty and light winds and had to be cancelled once the breeze died completely.

Echavarri and Paz put in a protest for redress as soon as they arrived on-shore. They had evidence that they were actually not over the line. After a three hour hearing the Jury ruled them correct and they were granted the redress which put them back in first place and World Champions.

‘We were definitely not over the line and we were lucky enough to have evidence of that. We were being very, very careful and I wouldn’t risk the title by doing such a mistake!! We have been training hard, we have been sailing well. It was time for a reward – we are the World Champions! Gee are we happy!!!’ explained Echavarri with a big smile on his face.

After the regatta, Aaron Macintosh had a chance to reflect. ‘We only got in one race as the off shore breeze died out and the sea breeze never made it in.

’In Race 9, Carlos and I sailed well to finish 7th. We rounded the top mark 15th and slowly knocked off the boats in front. The breeze died as the race went on finishing in only 4 knots. We made some nice decisions with the shifting breeze. We had good game plan and stuck to it. Keep it simple, keep it safe and no risks. It paid off.’

’So with a 7th place this gives us 6th place over all. Not to bad considering our limited time sailing together. We were focused and determined to make our mark in this experienced fleet. We beat the Gold and Silver Medallists from Athens and Sydney. We were racing against full time professionals and there advantage showed. We made few silly mistakes early in the regatta, but as we sailed more together we became a better team, our speed improved and our tack ticks more precise as our communication improved.’

’Carlos and I are planning to do the European Championship in six weeks time (Sweden). We know we can do better and are going to give it a serious shot. We have some new equipment to test and some settings to try. It’s not often you get the chance to sail with mates from another country. We had fun sailing together, we may as well do as much as possible in a non qualifying year.’

To underline the re-writing of the form-book for the Tornado class, 2004 Gold Medallists Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher (AUT) finished 11th overall - only placing twice in the top ten. 2004 GBR Olympic representative, who finished 11th in Athens, Leigh McMillan and new crew Howden Williams, finished second in the 2005 Worlds. Silver medallists in 2004, John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree (USA) finished 8th in the 2005 Worlds – improving with a string of top ten placings in the final half of the regatta.

Primary sources: www.srr-sailing.com and www.kiwispy.com

Top Five Overall

1. ESP Echavarri/Paz 43.90
2. GBR McMillan/Howden 48.00
3. FRA Revil/Espagnon 76.00
4. GER Polgar/Spalteholz 78.00
5. FRA Guichard/Guyader 83.00