Miami Olympic Classes Regatta - Day 3

MIAMI, FLA. (January 28, 2000) -- Stronger, steadier wind, accompanied by warmer temperatures, has made today a perfect day on Biscayne Bay for competitors at the 11th annual Miami Olympic Classes Regatta. As predicted by US Sailing Team meteorologist Chris Bedford of Sailing Weather Services (Watertown, Mass.), an easterly breeze materialized at approximately 0900 just as sailors were rigging and readying to depart for their respective racecourses. Race officials conducting the event were ecstatic with today's conditions, running multiple races in all classes -- Europe, Finn, Laser, Mistral, Soling, Star and Tornado -- allowing them to get closer to the maximum of 12 races planned for the event. Racing at the only International Sailing Federation (ISAF) grade-one ranking event in the U.S.A. concludes on Saturday, January 29, 2000, with an awards presentation at Coral Reef Yacht Club.

EUROPE

Sailing four races today, the 15-boat Europe fleet has seen no changes in the top three overall finishers. Results from a total of ten races, including one drop, gives 12, 27 and 36 points, respectively, to Soren Johnsen (DEN), Denise Cesky (AUT), and '99 ISAF World Youth Bronze Medalist Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.).

FINN

Adding four races today, for a total of ten including a drop, has resulted in a switch between yesterday's first and second-place finishers in the 28-boat Finn class. Holding first with 21 points is Richard Clarke (CAN). In second with 35 points is Mark Herrmann (Seattle, Wash.), followed by Philippe Rogge (BEL) with 40 points.

LASER

Defending Miami OCR Laser champion and '99 Pan Am Games Silver Medalist Mark Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.) has moved into first place after the 62-boat Laser fleet logged four races today. Mendelblatt, with 42 points after counting one drop race, has overtaken yesterday's leader, Karl Suneson (SWE) by one point. In third is Serge Kats (NED), with 52 points.

Japanese boardsailors Keisuke Ogawa and Suzuki Kazuyoshi swapped overall positions from yesterday, to end today with nine and ten points, respectively, after seven races and one drop. Floridian Ben Barger (St. Petersburg) remains solidly in third with 19 points overall.

SOLING

After ten races, the team of Andy Beadsworth, Richard Sydenham and Barry Parkin (GBR) are tied, nine wins apiece, with '99 Soling World and European Match Racing Champion Hans Wallen and crew Johan Barne and Auguston Magnus (SWE). '96 Soling Olympic Bronze Medalist Jeff Madrigali, with Craig Healy and Hartwell Jordan (Novato/Tiburon/Byron, Calif.), the '99 Soling Match Racing World Silver Medalists, are third with eight wins. The 16-strong Soling fleet are competing in a match-race only format.

STAR

Completing three races today, for a regatta total of six, allows the 50-boat Star fleet to include a drop race in their overall scoring. Finishing 1-4-2 in today's racing has moved Marc Pickel and Thomas Auracher (GER) into first place with 11 points. Australia's representatives to the 2000 Olympic Regatta, Colin Beashel and David Giles, are second with 22 points, followed by '92 Star Olympic Bronze Medalist Ross MacDonald and Kai Bjorn (Canada) with 23. The top U.S. team is Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl (San Diego, Calif./Miami, Fla.) in fourth place with 28 points.

TORNADO

After 10 races and one drop, '96 Olympians John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree (New Orleans, La./Newport Beach, Calif.) have maintained their lead in the 13-boat Tornado fleet, standing first with 15 points overall. Also maintaining their positions are defending champions Lars Guck and PJ Schaffer (both Bristol, R.I.) who yesterday were tied on points with Robbie Daniel and Jacques Bernier (Clearwater/Daytona, Fla.). The two teams now have 21 and 27 points, respectively.

Hosts for the Miami OCR are the U.S. Sailing Center; Coral Reef, Key Biscayne and Miami Yacht Clubs; and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club.

For further press information please contact Nigel Cherrie on:
Email: nigel.cherrie@rya.org.uk
Miami Olympic Classes Regatta website: www.ussailing.org/News/mocr00

RYA Team GBR sponsors:
World Class Performance: www.uksport.gov.uk
Sail for Gold: www.sailforgold.co.uk
Chernikeeff: www.chernikeeff.co.uk
Douglas Gill: www.douglasgill.com