UKRAINE CREW SCORE SURPRISE WIN IN 49ERS.
by Ian Grant. on 22 Sep 2000
Katrina Butler
Happy Ukraine 49er skiff sailors Rodion Luka and Georgiy Leonchuk had a special reason to smile when they outsailed the best in the World to claim a career best result on Sydney Harbour today.
The 15th World ranked crew showed they can sail as fast as the best when they are able to have first use of the wind.
This was revealed in the race sailed in a near perfect 8-10 knot wind where the Ukraine sailors took full advantage of an early break .
Skipper Luka was determined to secure his most important career win and revelled in the chance to outpace his higher ranked rivals when he and Leonchuk powered across the line 1 minute 19 seconds clear of the Kiwi crew of Dan Slater and Nathan Handley.
Jonathan and Charlie McKee (US) the oldest crew competing in the 17 Nation fleet finished 2 seconds off the stern of the New Zealander's to move another point clear in the race for Gold when they held off the fast finishing Swiss who finished fourth 2 seconds off the pace.
RESULTS Race 9 (Provisional) UKR 1, NZL 2, USA 3, FIN 4, GBR 5, AUS 6, ITA 7, POL 8.
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