Spithill loses the Spanish Open 2000 on a count-back

by News Editor on 15 Oct 2000 The Spanish Open 2000 held in Bayona came to a disappointing finish on Saturday, when racing was abandoned because of lack of breeze.

In contrast conditions had been strong for much of the week, with heavy rain & occasionally poor visibility.

World 9th ranked match racer Jamie Spithill had beaten Andy Green from the UK 3-2in one semifinal while Luc Pillot had beaten Jesper Johansen 3-0 in the other.

Officials calculated the finals result without any racing, on the records of the two skippers up to the final.

Luc Pillot was adjudged the winner, over Jamie Spithill on a count back.

While Spithill will no doubt be disappointed at not being able to have a crack at the final of this Grade I event, he is on a roll after finishing second at his last outing, the Knickerbocker Cup in Port Washington N.Y. last week.

Final Results:

1.Luc Pillot, FRA
2.James Spithill, AUS
3.Andy Green, UK
4.Jesper Johansen, DEN
5.Russel Coutts, NZL
6.Phillippe Presti FRA
7.Sebastien Destremau, FRA/AUS
8.Gonzalo Araujo, ESP
9.Francesco de Angelis, ITA
10.Staffan Linberg, FIN