Issue # 204

 Today's Sailing News 

Match Racing

After three days of racing at the 2000 Match Racing World Championships, 3 sailors have distinguished themselves.  As expected, New Zealand's Dean Barker, France's Bertrand Pace and Peter Gilmour are setting the pace.

Barker leads with 10 points, with Pace and Gilmour tied at 9.  In competition amongst themselves Gilmour has beaten Barker and Pace once.  Barker has beaten Gilmour once, and also lost to Gilmour and Pace.  Pace has lost to Gilmour and beat Pace.  

Round 2 has seen a 2-0 start for Gilmour, 1-1 for Barker and 0-2 for Pace.  

So, although Barker tops the table, Gilmour's performance may show he has the strongest winning chance.

Most of the second round remains.  From form shown it looks like it'll be a fight among several sailors to gain a spot in the semis with the lead trio.

Underway is the Spa Olympic classes regatta in Medembik Netherlands.  With the Olympic games in September many teams are sailing Spa knowing they will be in Sydney in a couple of months.  Below is a look at how some of the sailors selected to the US team are fairing.

Tornado:  John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree are 15th with only 1 top 10 finish in 6 races.

49er:  Leading teams are New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.  These teams have won 5 of 6 races.  The US Olympic team of Charlie and Johnathan Mckee are 11th with a top finish of 2nd.

470 Men:  US Olympians Paul Foerester and Bob Merrick are 2nd having finished as high as 2nd in races 4 & 6.

Finn:  US Trials winner Russ Silvestri is a solid 4th.

Laser:  Trials winner John Myrdal is 41st.  He did win race 2.

There are no American entries in the following classes:  470 women, Europe, Mistral Sailboards, Soling and Star.