Womens Match Racing - Rolex Thompson Cup - Day 3

USA's Hannah Swett and England's Cordelia Eglin to Battle for Victory Today

Oyster Bay, N.Y. (August 27, 2000) - It was dark last evening when the race committee at Long Island Sound's Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) finally called it a day. With minimal winds making it impossible to race earlier in the day, the Rolex Thompson Cup fleet finally worked in some races at dinnertime. Twelve teams of the world's best women match racers are competing in this event, which concludes today and previews a new match racing discipline for women at the 2004 Olympic Games.

"Given the wind conditions, we've been very busy making provisions in the schedule," said Event Chair Bruce Cook, who explained that Thursday's racing was postponed due to lack of wind and Friday's races were completed in 5-8 knot breezes. "The women were split into two groups. With a full five flights of competition now completed, we are going right into the petit finals and finals today."

Already determined for today's finals is the winner's bout between Hannah Swett (Jamestown, R.I./New York, N.Y.) and Great Britain's Cordelia Eglin, who share a 5-0 win-loss record. Sailing off for the right to sail against Germany's Nadine Stegenwalner in the petit finals (for third place) will be Bermuda's Paula Lewin, New Zealand's Sharon Ferris and Cory Sertl (Rochester, N.Y.), who are tied with 3-2 records. Stegenwalner, who was in the opposite group from these three skippers, has a 4-1 win-loss record, which she used to edge out the closest competitor in her own group: Dru Slattery (Marblehead, Mass.), who walks away with a 3-2 record.

Despite today's light and variable winds, the spirit of the fleet remains high for getting in the needed races. Certainly the talent gathered here will provide for an exciting conclusion.

The Rolex Thompson Cup is presented by Condé Nast Publications and Self magazine.

More Information:

• www.ThompsonCup.org