Besson and Arnaud (FRA) lead Tornado opening day

by Patricia Kirschner on 4 Jul 2007
Day 1 of racing started quite unusually for the Tornado fleet. The shifty and challenging conditions of course 4 saw some different teams holding the top positions for a change after two races. Left or Right? That was the big question of the day.

Race 1 - 8 knots, NW and swell of 1,5m

The right hand side of the course was the way to go. The German brothers Tino and Niko Mittelmeier made the right decision and got to the weather mark right behind the new British team of John Gimson and Stuart Bithell. The Germans took the lead on the second upwind to win a very difficult race. The British pair got caught without pressure and dropped to sixth.

'We like the light conditions and didn't make any mistake on the first race despite the very shifty conditions. Unlike the second race where we went to the completely wrong side and finished 22nd!' explained Tino.

The French teams of Billy Besson and Arnaud Jarlegan and Yann Guichard and Alexandre Guyader went the right way and hold on throughout the race to finish second and third consecutively.

Santiago Lange and Carlos Espinola (ARG) came back in great style after being away from the Tornados due to Santiago's involvement with the America's Cup on Victory Team. They finished fourth and fifth and are currently second overall.

'It was not an easy day, very shifty and difficult but we got it right. It was a very busy week putting it all together and I am very happy to be sailing back on a Tornado with Carlos', said Santiago.

Race 2 - the wind picked up to 10knots with gusts of 12

This time the left was favored. John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree (USA) and Olivier Backes and Paul Ambroise (FRA) and Johannes Polgar and Florian Spalteholz (GER) were the top three boats from start to finish. It was a close finish between the French, who stole the lead on the last downwind, and the Americans.

'The funny thing is that Olivier lost the countdown right before the start and we put him back in action giving him the time. It was a great race for us anyway, especially after finishing 23rd on the first one', said Charlie.

Not a good day for some of the top sailors that struggled to get it right, or left, for this matter. Defending World Champions Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby (AUS) finished 19th on both races. Double Gold Medalists Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT) 18th and 23rd.

But a great day for he French team of Billy Besson and Arnaud Jarlegan. Sailing two very consistent races puts them as leaders of the Tornados with a second and a seventh.

Carolijn Brouwer and Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) are holding the third position overall after a fifth and a tenth.

'It was important to have sailed consistently today. We did the right calls for the pressures and had good speed. We are happy with our performance and the way we started this event', told Carolijn.

Two more races are scheduled for Wednesday starting at 13:00 hrs.