2000 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship - Day 5

Medals decided in Volvo Youth Worlds

Photo ©: Peter Bentley

Four Gold medals have been determined following today's two races in the 2000 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship on Sydney Harbour. Although a strong wind warning was in force for Sydney the expected 30 knot blow did not materialise and crews had to be content with varibale breezes from the northeast between 8 and 12 knots.

Having dominated the entire regatta it was fitting that Norway¹s Siren Sundby was the first to secure her Gold Medal. Sundby only sailed one race today with a second place sufficient to tie up the Gold without need to compete further. Her scorecard boasts remarkably consistent six wins, two seconds and a third across 9 races. "I am very pleased!" said Sundby. "In the last race I had a bit of a drama. I had to be in the top three and for a while I was lying eighth. In the end, I just gybed inside the German to get in front."

Though she had won with two races and a day to spare, Sundby did not make life easy for herself at the end. "I really messed up my start, I think I was trying too hard to focus on making the top three." As well as sailing for Norway in the Sydney Olympics, Sundby has won the Girl's Optimist European Championship on two occasions. She puts much of here success down to her Olympic training program. "Last year after I qualified for the Olympics, I had a lot of support from the Norwegian Olympic Federation". Sundby is now planning to do another Olympic campaign adding "And of course, it's a lot of fun to be a World Champion!"

The battle for the minor medals in the Byte will continue tomorrow between Poland's Katarzyna Brzoska and Germany's Hanne Jansch. Brzoska leads by just one point with the decider for Silver and Bronze medal depending entirely on the outcome of the final race.

It has been a great regatta overall for the Polish girls, with Mistral sailboarder Agata Brygola (POL) also securing the Gold Medal today. Brygola had two wins today, which was enough to secure the Gold with a race to spare. The battle for Silver and Bronze will continue tomorrow between the Allison Shreeve (AUS) and Jenny Le Bihan (FRA). Shreeve and Le Bihan are tied on 22 points and both girls are now certain of a medal. "It was light conditions today so it was much harder for me," said Shreeve. "The lighter girls went well. I just have to beat France to get the Silver Medal. The plan is to sail as fast as I can and try and win the race ­ and go out with a bang.

In the boy's Mistral, Netherland's Joeri Van Dyk produced yet another determined performance to score a 1st and 2nd, taking the Gold medal with a race to spare. Nicolas Guyader (FRA) is assured of the silver medal while Alexander Chabner (ISR) and King Yin Chan will be fighting over a single point to decide who wins the Bronze medal.

After a slightly hesitant start, Britain's Victoria and Emma Rawlinson have won no less then five of the last seven races sailed in the Girl's 420. By taking both races on the penultimate day they ensured themselves of the Gold Medal with a race to spare. The British sisters have shown maturity beyond their years to remain calm and focused when their close rivals, notably France's Manuelle and Virginie Adam faltered.

"We always knew we were going to get a medal," said a confident Emma once the final results were known. "We knew where we were up to against the other teams since the Worlds earlier in the year" added Victoria, "and we knew we had added another dimension to our sailing since then. We are just so happy that all those freezing weekends we spent training in England have paid off." Both girls were full of praise for their Coach, British 1992 Olympic 470 representative Paul Brotherton. "We have done a lot of training with Paul over the last couple of months which has really helped".

By dropping to 6th and 5th in today's two races, the French sisters have dropped to third in the overall results, one point behind Australia's Melissa Bryant and Martha Leonard. The Australians had a great day finishing with two second places. "We had a fabulous day ­ absolutely brilliant," said crew Martha Leonard. The Australians have now moved up into Silver Medal position, only one point ahead of the French. Both crews are assured of a medal with the advantage for Silver currently lying with the home team.

However, it wasn¹t such great news for Australia's 420 Boys. They had a good first race today, but in the second race they got caught at the back of the start, and weren't able to make up any ground. They crossed the finish line in 23rd place, which drops them back to second place overall behind the new leaders, Alberto Padron and Antonio Del Castillo from Spian.

"We had two bad starts today," said Australian skipper Gavin Fee. "In the first race we were able to fight our way back, but in the second race the wind went crazy and there was just nothing we could do. Tomorrow we plan to get a front row start and sail to the best of our ability ­ that¹s all we can do!" The Spanish now have a six point lead and are assured of a medal of some kind. Behind them nothing is certain with any one of the top four crews still able to win the three medals on offer.

In the boy's Laser, who will win the medals is already decided, but who will win which medal is still very much to play for. Australia's Ben Austin got off to a great start in this regatta and has sailed consistently ever since. It was within his grasp to tie things up in the final race today but a poor start and constant fight back saw him finishing down in 7th place. With only one race remaining, Austin leads New Zealand's Andrew Murdoch by only three points, but is fairly confident for tomorrow. "I think I've done enough to hang onto first," said Austin at the conclusion of racing today. "All I need to do is keep him (NZL) out of the top three and I'll be OK. I'm a bit nervous, but I'll have an easy night tonight and I'm sure I'll calm down."

New Zealand's Andrew Murdoch is also feeling confident. Whilst he's been enjoying sailing on Sydney Harbour, he has been struggling with the shifty conditions. "All I have to do is go out and win it tomorrow!" he said at the conclusion of racing today. As well as trying to pin down Austin, Murdoch will have to keep an eye open for Thomas Le Breton (FRA) who is just four points behind and could still snatch the Silver Medal.

In the Volvo Trophy Team Competition, France saw their lead eroded still further and no lie just 19 points ahead of the host nation. Though it is conceivable tat Australia could surge past on the last day, with just one race to sail in each class it seems unlikely.

For full results visit www.boatingoz.com.au/~volvoyouth.htm