Miami Olympic Classes Regatta Overall

MIAMI, FLA. (January 29, 2000) -- The conclusion of racing today at the 11th annual Miami Olympic Classes Regatta has brought 295 competitors, drawn to Biscayne Bay from 32 countries, one step closer to their Olympic aspirations. The only International Sailing Federation (ISAF) grade-one ranking event in the U.S.A. offered stiff competition in the Europe, Finn, Laser, Mistral, Soling, Star and Tornado classes, especially for American sailors who have yet to compete at the 2000 Olympic Team Trials in those classes.

EUROPE

The 15-boat Europe fleet added one race today for a series total of 11, including one drop. Soren Johnsen (DEN) never relinquished his lead in this class, and wins the regatta with 14 points overall. Denise Cesky (AUT) finished second with 28 points, and '99 ISAF World Youth Bronze Medalist Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) is third with 40.

FINN

The 28-boat Finn class ended their series with 11 races after the addition of one race today. Counting one drop, Richard Clarke (CAN) wins the event with 23 points. Philippe Rogge (BEL) places second with 40 points, while Mark Herrmann (Seattle, Wash.) takes third place overall with 44 points.

LASER

Today's single race gives the 62-boat Laser fleet a series total of 11, counting one drop in overall scoring. Karl Suneson (SWE) wins the regatta with 45 points, followed by Serge Kats (NED) with 57 points. Placing third is '99 Pan Am Games Silver Medalist Mark Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.) with 58 points.

MISTRAL

The addition of one race in the 11-board Mistral fleet saw only a slight shake-up in the leaders of this class. Japanese boardsailors Suzuki Kazuyoshi and Keisuke Ogawa traded the lead throughout the event and end the series tied at 11 points apiece. Both sailors had the same number of firsts and seconds, and both dropped a 3rd-place finish, leaving the final standings to be determined by the winner of the last race -- Kazuyoshi. Ben Barger (St. Petersburg, Fla.) retained his lock on third with 22 points overall.

SOLING

Sailing a match-race series only, the 16-strong Soling fleet results are being reported separately and can be found on the US SAILING website.

STAR

Light air did not allow any races to be completed today in the 50-boat Star fleet resulting in yesterday's standings determining the final winners for the event. Marc Pickel and Thomas Auracher (GER) retain first place with 11 points, followed by Australia's representatives to the 2000 Olympic Regatta, Colin Beashel and David Giles, in second with 22 points. '92 Star Olympic Bronze Medalist Ross MacDonald and Kai Bjorn (Canada) finish the regatta in third place overall with 23points. Top U.S. finishers are Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl (San Diego, Calif./Miami, Fla.) in fourth place with 28 points.

TORNADO

Concluding their series with 2 races today for a series total of 12, counting one drop earned the championship title for '96 Olympians John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree (New Orleans, La./Newport Beach, Calif.) in the 13-boat Tornado fleet. Placing 1-6 in today's racing, Lovell and Ogletree complete the series with 22 points, while finishes of 2-5 by Lars Guck and PJ Schaffer (both Bristol, R.I.), earned them 28 points and second place overall for the event. Robbie Daniel and Jacques Bernier (Clearwater/Daytona, Fla.) remained in third place after placing 6-(9) today for a total of 39 points overall.

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

Complete results are available online at www.ussailing.org.