AUSTRALIAN STAR CLIMBS UP THE POINT'S TABLE
by Isabelle Musy on 25 Sep 2000
Jessica Statham
Australia's Colin Beashel and David Giles have made a big jump today.
The top world ranked Star sailors have gone up from 9th to 3rd place in the point's table after wining heat 4 today on Course D between Middle and South Head.
Beashel and Giles are here to take revenge after an unfortunate conclusion in Atlanta when they missed the gold after finding out they were OCS in the final they had just won.
The Australian pair started this regatta with middle fleet results but managed today to get off the floor and snatch the second race of the day.
The boys are now only five points behind the leaders, Spain's van der Ploeg and Trujillo, and four points behind Atlanta Gold Medallist, Torben Grael and his Marcelo Ferreira.
Grael, who won the Louis Vuitton Cup earlier this year as being tactician aboard Italian America's Cup boat Luna Rossa, is a serious medal contender and a big threat for Beashel.
The Brazilian pair sailed an impressive smart race 3 today, reading perfectly the wind variations. He was even taking short tacks for the advantage line from the wind changes.
Surprise so far comes from US Mark Reynolds and his Magnus Liljedahl, who were regarded as the big favourites in this regatta but who don't seem to find their right way through the 16-nation fleet. The Americans are in 11th position overall after finishing 11th and 5th today.
RACE 4 RESULTS: 1. AUS, 2. BRA, 3. ESP, 4. CAN , 5. USA, 6. ITA, 7. GBR, 8. SUIS, 9. BER, 10. NZL.
PROGRESSIVE RESULTS AFTER FOUR RACES (NO DISCARD): 1. ESP 17 PTS, 2. BRA 19 PTS, 3. AUS 23 PTS, 4. ITA 26 PTS, 5. BER 26 PTS, 6. GBR 29 PTS, 7. CAN 30 PTS, 8. NED 31 PTS, 9. NZL 32 PTS. 10 GER 33 PTS.
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