| BAY OF CADIZ, SPAIN-(17-9-2003) The moderate ESE winds, with average speeds between 18-22kt, forecasted for today did not let the Tornado fleet down. The Practice Race started just after 4pm in excellent conditions.
While some sailors decided to stay on shore and be rested for tomorrow’s first day of racing others went out to do some more training. 25 boats started in the Practice Race but most of them did just a beat and came in. Tomorrow is the big day. Top guys on the top mark were Mitch Booth/Herbert Dercksen (NED), Lars Guck/Jonathan Farrar (USA), Sven Karsenbarg/Mischa Heemskerk (NED), and Oskar Johansson/John Curtis.
Measurement was concluded today and the fleet of 72 boats is ready to start their 2003 World Championship. 20 out of the 26 countries that are attending the event will be fighting for an Olympic qualification. 7 slots are available here in Cadiz. Greece, Argentina, Australia, Austria, France and Sweden qualified already in the 2002 Martha’s Vineyard’s Worlds.
The Tornado class is not short of Olympic Medalists in this event though:
ARG Carlos Espinola Silver in Sydney and in Atlanta Mistral class
AUS Darren Bundock Silver in Sydney Tornado
AUS John Forbes Silver in Sydney and Bronze in Barcelona Tornado
AUT Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher Gold in Sydney Tornado
GBR Ian Barker Silver in Sydney 49er class
GER Andrew Landenberger Silver in Atlanta Tornado
GER Roland Gaebler Bronze in Sydney Tornado
NED Mitch Booth Silver in Atlanta and Bronze in Barcelona Tornado
POR Hugo Rocha and Nuno Barreto Bronze in Atlanta 470 class
SWE Goran Marstrom Bronze in Moscow Tornado
SWE Hans Wallen Silver in Atlanta Star class
2 races are scheduled for tomorrow starting at 12:00pm. The weather outlook for tomorrow is weakening of the easterly flow, with light NE winds in the morning, veering to SE 12-16 kt.
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