10 out of 10 for Spithill in Italy

by Sailsportz on 9 Jun 2001 After a slow start to the (European) summer match race season, Pittwater
sailor James Spithill and his crew Joey Newton, Ben Durham and Andy Fethers
representing the Seattle USA based OneWorld Challenge appear to have hit
their stride, proceeding undefeated through to the final round of the
$US50,000 BluRimini International Match race at Rimini on the Adriatic coast
of Italy. Spithill, currently ranked 9th in the world, will face Cian in the
best of five match final on Saturday. The strong showing will be a timely
confidence boost as the team progress to Lake Garda next week to defend the
Pedrini Cento Cup Grade 1 title claimed last year.

In the semi finals on Friday, Spithill's crew defeated Kiwi Murray Jones
2-0, whilst Italian Olympian Paulo Cian similarly displaced Kelvin Harrap
USA who, sailing with Morgan Larson as tactician, also represent the
Oneworld camp. Jones a former Team NZ member, is sailing with Simon Daubney,
Curtis Blewitt and Marco Constant and represents the Swiss Challenge.
Prada's Francesco DeAngelis just missed the cut.


ROUND ROBIN results (wins/matches)

James Spithill 10/10
Murray Jones 9/10
Kelvin Harrap 7/10
Paolo Cian 7/10
Francesco De Angelis 6/10
Matteo Simoncelli 4/10
Lars Nordbjerg 3/10
Nicola Celon 3/10
Jesper Feldt 2/10
Fabio Mazzoni 2/10
Sébastien Col 2/10

Semifinals:
James Spithill 2 Murray Jones 0
Paolo Cian 2 Kelvin Harrap 0