ROUG AND MATTHIJSSE STRUGGLE IN EUROPE CLASS
by Ian Grant on 21 Sep 2000
Katrina Butler
Denmark's Kristine Roug and Margriet Matthijsse of Holland failed to make to top six after two races of the 2000 Olympic Women's Europe class regatta on the inner Sydney Harbour course yesterday.
Roug the current World champion and the defending Gold Medallist from Atlanta is in 14th place with a score of 5-21 while Matthijsse who sailed to a brilliant tactical win in the first heat dramatically slipped down the scoreboard after a 24th in race 2.
British helmswoman Shirley Robertson, photograhed by Sail-world during the pre-Olympic regatta, a dual Olympian from Barcelona and Atlanta expressed her depth of International Europe class sailing experience to be the overnight leader with her consistent 4-3 score.
She is two points clear of the talented Sari Mutala of Finland ( 2-7) and the 18th World ranked Neus Garriga-Turron of Spain who recorded a 10-2.
However Matthijsse who was in brilliant tactical racing form to win the opening heat of the series by 21 seconds and then fell of the pace to finish 25 in race Roug remain in striking distance of the leaders.
Matthijsse with her 1-24 and 25 penalty points is in 12th place while Roug 5-21 and 26pts is in 14th place.
PROGRESSIVE POINTS (2 Races completed No Discard).: GBR 7pts 1, FIN 9pts 2, ESP 12pts 3, ITA 12pts 4, NZL 13pts 5, IRL 16pts 6, BEL 16pts 7, NOR 17pts 8, GER 19pts 9, CAN 21pts 10.
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