Rolex 2000 ISAF Women's World Match Racing Championship - Day Two

by Susannah Bourne, Strategic on 28 Nov 2000 Amy Waring of New Zealand and Katie Spithill of Australia both made solid starts in the first day of racing at the Rolex 2000
ISAF Women's World Match Racing Championship in St Petersburg, Florida.
Waring used all her cunning and skill to land a penalty on Marie Klok of Denmark as she caught her out on the downwind leg to
the finish. Waring was still coming upwind, some way behind the Danish and attacked when they least expected. The Danish
chose to take their penalty just before the finish, but they misjudged the strength of the current and let the Kiwis come through
from behind and pip them on the line. She finished up the day with three wins and two losses.

That was the scoreline for the young Australian team too. Mainsheet trimmer Jeni Whalan said their teamwork was excellent
and she was optimistic about tomorrow's racing.

After getting a list-minute invitation to the event just two weeks ago, Marie Bjorling of Sweden more than justified her place with
five straight wins on the racecourse off St Petersburg today.

'We have had a good season, so we knew we could sail well today,' she said. 'It's good to show the other teams what we can
do.'

Hannah Swett and her American team also won all their heats in the fickle Florida breeze, which gave the race organisers a
headache today. America's Cup sailor Dawn Riley, who trims for Swett, said they won three out of their four starts. 'We lost
one of the starts, but our crew were reading the wind real well today,' she said.

Former World Sailor of the Year, Carolijn Brouwer of the Netherlands surprised even herself with her performance today. With
only five practice weekends of match racing under her belt, this was her first day of championship match racing in her career.
'We came here with the goal of winning just one race in the whole regatta,' she said. So after winning three races today, she
was elated with her performance. 'I'm just glad they wound up the racing when they did because five races today was quite
enough for me. The wind was getting lighter and I don't think our boathandling would have been too good in those conditions.'

If the Aussie and Kiwi teams can progress to the next round, they will find themselves up against some more formidable
competition, as the top eight seeded skippers begin racing tomorrow in the second round. They include Danish reigning world
match race champion Dorte Jensen and Britain's Shirley Robertson who won gold on Sydney Harbour at the Olympics.

The Championship concludes with the finals, being held on Saturday 2nd December.