Issue # 177

 Today's Sailing News 

Olympic Sailing:  Star Selection Trails

Today SD previews the final set of Olympic trials which will begin racing on Saturday.  The Star has been an Olympic class since 1932.  The boat was designed in 1910!

It is a demanding boat to sail with a large main and a narrow beam.  Skipper and crew need a weight of at least 400 lbs. to keep it flat and fast.

A trio of Star skippers would seem to be in the role of favorites.

Eric Doyle is the current class world champion.  Last week he won the Spring Western Hemisphere at the same venue as the trials.  Doyle is ranked 8th in the ISAF class rankings.

Past Olympian Mark Reynolds was 3rd at the worlds and 1st at the 1998 North Americans.  He is the highest ranked American at 3rd.

Vince Brun is also a past Olympian and multi class champion.  Brun was 11th at the worlds and ranks 38th.

Other ranked skippers are John Macausland 15th at the worlds and ranked 6th.  Peter Vasella carries a # 14 ranking.

It will likely be one of these skippers that takes the only place that matters in this regatta 1st.  That skipper will get to represent the USA in Sydney and continue the USA's strong tendency to medal in the Star class.

All trials- Europe, Finn, Laser, and Star will be sailed on San Francisco Bay.  The forecast for day 1 calls fro W-NW winds increasing to 15-25 typically challenging conditions.

Olympic Sailing:  NZL Team Named