| FORTALEZA, BRAZIL-(9-12-2005) Brazilian, Eduardo Couto, and American, Paige Railey, needed only one race to become world champions at the Radial Open & Women. Eduardo beat American, Brad Funk, by winning the race and conquering his country's first title at Radial.''Win the Worlds had always been my dream. And to do that on my own country is just overwhelming'', said. For Paige Railey, the fifteenth place was more than enough to get her hands on the trophy. ''I´m very happy and excited. Sailing in Fortaleza was wonderful''. The World championship in Fortaleza was the first of Laser Radial Olympic Era. The class will make its debut at Pequim 2008.
The conquest of the Worlds 2005 represents the crowning of Paige Railey as the main name of Laser Radial. The american sailor, 18 year old Florida native, leads the U.S ranking since she was fourteen. Not even the migration of stars from other classes to Radial, compelled by the olympic dream, affected her performance. In the 2005 season, Paige left no doubt of her domain: won six of eight competitions she participated and became champion of America, Europe, and now, of the world.
Eduardo Couto is a 20 year old engineer undergraduate that has already imposed himself another challenge: win the olympic try-outs. ‘’That is now my goal, what will demand a loto f practice for the next two years’’. The aim is high – brazilian Robert Scheidt won two of the last three olympic gold medals at laser – but he always goes for the bull´s eye. In a 11 year sailing carreer, he has on the shelf one south american and one south hemisphere trophys. The next target is the national championship, in January.
The Radial Open runner-up was american Brad Funk, followed by newzealander Blair Mclay, argentine Martin Jenkins and brazilain Andreas Perdicaris completing the top five. The second place among the Women went on the last day to french Sophie de Turckheim, who overtook american Ana Tunnicliffe. German Petra Niemann was fourth and australian Krystal Weir, 2004 World Champion, came in fifth.
Next Monday is set to launch the Radial Youth, the world championship for atheltes under eighteen. The event will show the future generation of Laser stars. One hundred sailors from all the continents will came to Fortaleza to dispute at the male and female categories. The races goes until December 17th, at the Marina Park Hotel.
The Laser Worlds 2005 includes four world championships: Senior (September 19th to 28th), Master (September 30th to October 8th), Radial Open & Women (December 3rd to 9th) and Radial Youth (December 10th to 17th). The events are organized by the International Laser Class Association, Brazilian Laser Class Association, Ceara State Sailing Federation, Brazilian Sailing Federation and Yacht Club of Fortaleza. The sponsors are: Ceara State Government, thru the Sports and Youth Bureau, Marina Park Hotel and Hamburg Süd. The event also has the support of the brazilian navy, Banco do Nordeste do Brasil, Mayor of Fortaleza, Unilink, Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club and Pirata Bar.
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