Silver for Ashley, Kendall fifth in RS-X Worlds

by Sail-World and RSXclass.com on 1 Oct 2006 New Zealand's Tom Ashley has finished second overall in the inaugrual World RS:X championships sailed in Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy.

Ashley led by a two point margin going into the Medal Race but finished one place behind Casper Bouman (NED) who was second in the Medal Race. Under the new Olympic tiebreak system, the countback is decided on the placings of the competitors in the Medal race only. So the World Championship was awarded to Bouman.

In the Womens World Championship, Barbar Kendall made excellent progress in her campaign for the 2008 Olympics, finishing fourth in the medal race and secured fifth place overall.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB after the event, Ashley said that he was disappointed with the final results, 'but things didn't work out on the final day. I had geared my whole campaign for 2006 to peak at the end of September. My fitness was great, my equipment was great. Unfortunately the other guy was better on the day. But I'm still stoked. Casper Bouman is a very strong competitor, and all the best boardsailers in the world were at this event.

There were ten New Zealand competitors at the event. For those who did not make the Medal race, the results stand as at Race 11. The NZ Team was coached by Shayne Bright and Paul Page.

Report from www.rsxclass.com:

Medal places were decided today in the RSX World Championships, With Alessandra Sensini and Casper Bouman both hanging in by the skin of their teeth.

Alessandra came from behiind on the last leg to beat Marina Alabau in the last metres to the finish. and the crowd of boats exploded in cheers and applause, Once on the boat she grabbed hold of an Italian flag, and just went wild, the crowd rose to the occassion.

Spotting one of thepolice on a jet ski, Alessandra climbed aboard and did a lap of honor holding the three coloured flag of 'ITALIA' high above her head.

Casper Bouman has become a world champion at the age of 20. a big effort. He celebrates his 21st birthday on monday. The mens medal race changed leads constantly. Casper sealed the deal by doing just what he needed to do. He came in second giving him equal points with Tom Ashley. The Dutchies erupted on the finish line Casper threw himself into a backflip, and was soon joined by Jochem his coach and team member Joeri Van Dijk. it was complete joy and pandamonium.

Dutch television had a direct link back to their studios back in Holland, and Casper is bound for a huge welcome home. It is so warming to see the families of both Alessandra and Casper here.

The results below have been amended by Sail-World as the headings in the original version do not appear to be correct.

2006 RS:X World Championships - Men - Provisional Results
Place	Nation	Sail#	Name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Medal Race	Final Points
1	NED	52	Bouman, Casper	1	1	1	1	1	1	5	17	1	2	5	2	23
2	NZL	181	Ashley, Tom	1	1	1	2	1	1	4	10	4	1	1	3	23
3	POL	126	Miarczynski, Przemek	4	6	2	2	2	2	2	1	2	3	2	1	24
4	NED	1	Van Dijk, Joeri	1	1	1	2	1	5	3	28	3	9	14	4	48
5	GBR	21	Dempsey, Nick	2	4	2	1	4	1	6	6	7	4	13	7	51
6	UKR	19	Oberemko, Maxime	2	4	3	5	4	3	1	13	16	13	dnf	6	76
7	POL	82	Myszka, Piotr	5	6	2	4	5	8	7	4	15	11	10	8	78
8	GER	319	Wilhelm, Toni	3	3	7	3	5	2	17	15	5	8	24	5	78
9	BRA	1	Santos, Ricardo	4	2	3	3	4	3	13	3	14	15	16	9	82
10	FRA	115	Le Gal, Nicolas	8	11	4	5	10	7	9	2	10	7	15	10	93

2006 RS:X World Championships - Women - Provisional Results
Place	Nation	Sail#	Name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Medal Race	Final Points
1	ITA	25	Sensini, Alessandra	4	3	5	2	1	2	1	3	3	3	4	1	28
2	ESP	5	Alabau Neira, Marina	3	2	1	2	2	dsq	3	11	1	2	1	2	32
3	FRA	9	Merret, Faustine	dns	3	6	4	1	1	2	1	5	11	6	8	56
4	POL	8	Klepacka, Zofia U21	1	1	2	4	3	6	22	2	13	4	dnc	3	64
5	NZL	15	Kendall, Barbara	11	5	1	3	14	11	15	23	14	1	2	4	85
6	GER	6	Kinzl, Romy	5	5	3	6	10	19	10	36	18	9	5	6	102
7	AUS	15	Crisp, Jessica	17	11	5	5	6	5	5	17	23	5	18	5	104
8	FRA	4	Picon, Charline	3	2	13	7	ocs	1	20	14	2	21	3	10	106
9	GRE	1	Frai, Antonia	1	9	3	6	ocs	8	6	13	4	18	30	7	112
10	GBR	94	Shaw, Bryony	15	7	9	8	ocs	6	13	4	19	7	14	9	120