Australian Women's match racers have their eyes on Yngling Athens Olympics Berth.
by Rob Kothe on 12 Jan 2001
Team shot L-R; Emma Bullough, Katie Spithill, Jeni Whalan, Sarah
Roberts-Thomson. Media Pro
19 year old Uni. students Jeni Whalan, and Emma Bullough along with 18 year old Katie Spithill are taking their first step towards Athens 2004 this weekend.
These Nationals will be the first regatta since the ISAF decision to make the three-crewed Yngling the women's keelboat for Athens 2004.
They along with three other all womens teams will be sailing in the Yngling National this and next weekend on Sydney Harbour.
The three match racers who reached the last 8 in the Rolex 2000 World's In St. Petersburg Florida back in the end of November had their very first sail on a Yngling only last night.
As Jeni told sail-world.com today.' It will be a major learning experience, we are hoping that our crew-work will help us progress as we learn the boat. Our aim is to compete in the four qualifying races up to the major Rhode Island Regatta mid-year.'
Women skippers entered include two former Olympians. Nicola Bethwaite women's 470 class, 1988) and Melanie Dennison (Europe dinghy, 2000), RYYS member Julie Salt and Katie Spithill.
It seems that the lightest of those crews will be Spithill's so it will be interesting to see how they fare against some very experienced competition.
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