DAY 5 - JENSEN AND BJORLING LEAD CHARGE INTO SEMIS

by Dana Paxton on 1 Dec 2000 St. Petersburg, Fla. (November 30, 2000) - Defending champion Dorte Jensen
(DEN) displayed the flawless form that led her to the top of the
International Sailing Federation (ISAF) match race rankings, by beating all
six of her opponents in the quarterfinal round of the Rolex 2000 ISAF
Women's World Match Racing Championship. Seven flights were completed in
Sonars, with two flights remaining, giving all eight teams the chance to
qualify for the semifinal round, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow
on Tampa Bay.

Only one other skipper is tied with Jensen and that is Marie Bjorling, who
just three weeks ago learned that she would represent Sweden. Perhaps her
brief preparation has left little time for nervousness. In three matches
she trailed behind such tough competitors as Olympic gold medallist Shirley
Robertson (GBR) and Klaartje Zuiderbaan (NED) and came back to win each
match.

'I was very pleased at the way we were able to come from behind in tight
situations,' said Bjorling.

Zuiderbaan and Spithill put in the day's most impressive race in the fourth
flight. Zuiderbaan led the Australians down the run to within 50 yards of
the finish line, jibed and came up too high allowing Spithill to quickly
sneak by and steal the win. 'We just weren't good enough,' said European
match race champion Zuiderbaan. 'We have some improvements to make to our
downwind tactics.'

Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.) picked up three wins today, including one
against Hannah Swett (Jamestown, R.I./New York, N.Y.). Swett and Shirley
Robertson (GBR) are in the hunt for a pass to the semifinal round with two
wins each. Spithill, Zuiderbaan, and Paula Lewin (BER) with one win
apiece, round out the group.

A consolation round robin was held for places 9 to 16. Six races were
completed, with one remaining race to be sailed tomorrow. Cristina Monina
(ITA) and Christine Briand (FRA) are tied with five wins each.

Supporting sponsors of the Rolex 2000 ISAF Women's World Match Racing
Championship are Condé Nast Publications/SELF magazine and Florida 2012, an
organization working to bring the Olympics to the Tampa Bay area.

Contributing sponsors include Dry Creek Vineyard, Bitter End Yacht Club
(Virgin Gorda, BVI) for an invitation to the 2001 Pro-Am Event, Crown
Eurocars/Mercedes Benz, the official automobile, Bill and Jan Haueisen
(St. Petersburg, Fla.), Heineken Beer U.S.A. and Shumway Marine (Rochester,
N.Y.).

In-kind sponsors include Coca-Cola (Powerade), Harbor Sweets, Mt. Gay Rum,
Zephyrhills Spring Water, Protector Boats, Suncoast Inflatables and
Commodores Ships Store.

The city of St. Petersburg is a co-sponsor.

Other supporters include Commodore Ships Store (Treasure Island, Fla.),
Eastern Yacht Club (Marblehead, Mass.), Harken, Steve & Rogina Jeffries,
Corine Kantor, Little Pines Mulitmedia, Marina Points Ships Store, Masthead
Enterprises, Musto, Christopher G. Nelson M.D. (St. Petersburg, Fla.),
Nielsen-Kellerman, Poliglow Products, Profurl Reefing/Furling Systems, SAIL
magazine, Sail Care, Sailing Alternatives (Sarasota, Fla.), Seawanhaka
Corinthian Yacht Club (Oyster Bay, N.Y.), Speedtech Instruments, Uncommon
USA, US SAILING and the US Sailing Team (Portsmouth, R.I.).

Photos by sailing photographers Daniel Forster and Walter Cooper are posted
daily to www.spyc.org. Slides/prints by Dan Nerney are available by
contacting Media Pro.

(end)

Results after Day Five

Quarterfinal Round, win-loss record (5 races completed)

Betsy Alison (USA) 3-2
Marie Bjorling (SWE) 5-0
Dorte Jensen (DEN) 5-0
Paula Lewin (BER) 1-4
Shirley Robertson (GBR) 2-3
Katie Spithill (AUS) 1-4
Hannah Swett (USA) 2-3
Klaartje Zuiderbaan 1-4

Consolation Round for 9-16, win-loss record (6 races)

Christine Briand (FRA) 5-1
Carolijn Brouwer (NED) 1-5
Cordelia Eglin (GBR) 4-6
Gwen Joulie (FRA) 0-6
Malin Millbourn (SWE) 4-2
Cristina Monina (ITA) 5-1
Dru Slattery (USA) 2-4
Amy Waring (NZL) 3-3