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FLASH
Australia
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| Australian
Formula Nationals 2004
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Fonte :
www.formulawindsurfing.org
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FINAL
( 23/Janeiro Sexta-Feira )
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Allen wins it on a tie breaker from McGain.
Only one race was attempted today in
Sydney in extremely light winds and was
abandoned 5 minutes into it.
After 8 races and two discards Steve Allen
and Phil McGain were locked on points, but
after the tie breaker was applied Steve
Allen came away with the victory. Steve
said, " I'm really pleased to win my
home countries Formula title, Phil really
pushed me all the way, it's great to see
Formula so strong in Australia after not
racing here for several years".
Jesper Vesterstrom finished strong in
third place.
First Women was reigning Champion Anna
Davis from Victoria who beat the Mistral
specialist Allison Shreeve who recently
started to sail Formula.
Sean Obrien headed up the youth division.
Masters was obviously won by Phil McGain
with Dave Moorehead from Tasmania in
second and Brett Morris in third position.
A great event with the final prizing
giving held in the famous Fox Studio's in
downtown Sydney.
Special Thanks goes to Brett Morris for
organizing the event along side the
Australian Windsurfing Association.
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Dia
03 ( 22/Janeiro Quinta-Feira )
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With great sunbaking weather this morning
it looked like a day of rest, but the wind
gods would not have any of that. At 4pm
the predicted Southerly change came
through Sydney and turned Botany bay into
another racing playground.
Race 6 got underway in a steady 12-20
knots. McGain on this 10.5 got a flying
start near the boat, with Allen using his
trusty 10.6 close behind and Vesterstrom
powered a little further down the line on
this 11m. Allen tacked off after getting
in McGain's bad wind and turned out to
critical as McGain rounded the weather
mark well ahead of Vesterstrom with Allen
in third in hot pursuit. McGain sailed a
solid race to finish well ahead of Allen
who eventually picked off Vesterstrom on
the downwind.
Race 7. This time Allen got himself in a
better position to stay on the favoured
side of the course, which he did, but
McGain still rounded the first mark ahead
and Allen close behind in second and
Jesper in third. McGain hang on downwind
to lead around the bottom mark and then up
to the top mark again. Allen stayed close
enough to put his downwind speed into play
and passed McGain just before the bottom
mark to reach comfortably on the short
reach to the finish. Vesterstrom rounded
out the top 3.
Race 8. McGain got away clean at the pin
end while Vesterstrom who now changed down
to his 9.8 and Allen were spread back
along the line. Vesterstrom now was
finding his fifth gear and was able to
lead around the top mark after McGain
tacked early to cover Allen and found a
nice wind hole just before the weather
mark. Allen rounded third behind Jesper
Orth and Jesper Vesterstrom with McGain
eventually getting around in 4th place.
At the bottom mark Allen had a short lead
as McGain caught both Jespers to round
second with Vesterstrom close on McGain
tail in third. The top 3 competitors
battled it out to the upwind mark, this
time McGain made another mistake after
passing Allen and Vesterstrom on the
upwind, had to double tack the top mark.
This opened the door for Vesterstrom and
Allen to pass ahead of McGain and head
back down for the finish. Allen won the
race with McGain pulling out all stops to
pass Vesterstrom on the downwind.
Allen and McGain now have the same points,
with Allen leading after the tie breaker.
Last critical day tomorrow to see who will
win the Australian title.
Places after 8 races.
1. Allen
2. McGain
3. Vesterstrom
4. Orth.
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Dia
02 ( 21/Janeiro Quarta-Feira )
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Winds finally picked up to 10- 15 knots at
2.30pm to start race 4. Jesper Vesterstrom
got away clean on port tack while Allen
and McGain played it safe on Starboard.
With the winds light inshore Vesterstrom
heading out to sea got more pressure and
was able to round the weather mark ahead
of Allen with McGain close behind in
second and third place.
Allen was able to get past Vesterstrom on
the downwind and held the lead to the
finish, with Jesper in second and McGain
in third.
Race 5. The winds started to pick up but
there a storm looming from inland, which
made the conditions challenging. The gusts
were now up to 18 knots but the holes were
down to 8 knots. The fleet got away clean,
with the top 3 guys all on port tack
heading into fresh breeze. McGain rounded
first with Allen close behind in second
and Jesper within a stone’s throw in
third. Allen once again picked up distance
downwind to just get ahead of McGain at
the leeward mark. McGain was able to stay
in touch with Allen during the upwind
rounded just ahead before the run to the
finish. McGain staying outside was able to
hold a better angle while Allen jibed
inshore. As the two sailors approached the
bottom mark it was McGain who rounded
first and then had a short reach to the
finish, Allen got second and Jesper
rounded out the top 3.
After 5 races.
1. McGain
2. Allen
3. Vesterstrom.
Lots like a southerly change tomorrow
which could mean more challenging racing.
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Dia
01 ( 20/Janeiro Terça-Feira )
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The location is a really nice place, its
windy, sunny and it is extremely choppy
when the wind picks up.
There are about 50 competitors, which is
actually a lot in Australia. Formula is
about to get bigger here, but far away
from what it is in Europe, but that will
come.
There are sailors represented from
Singapore, Denmark, USA and a lot of
Aussie Locals including good “old”
Phil McGain.
Today we had 3 races in winds from 12-30
knots, building up in the afternoon.
In the first race Steve and Phil pulled of
an awesome port tack start leaving the
rest of the fleet behind, they where
battle ling throughout the whole race,
with Steve overtaking Phil on the last
reach winning the race. Jesper Vesterstrom
was put behind in 3 rd. position.
2nd Race, again a brilliant start from
Phil McGain, Phil was leading all the way
with Steve and Jesper pushing from the
back. Phil finished 1st and Jesper was
close to finish 2nd but stopped to long in
the last jibe to get overtaken by Steve
who got 2nd and Jesper 3rd.
Last race of the day, the wind really
picked up now, gusting more than 30 knots.
Jesper had a great start shooting out from
the pin end with Steve and Phil behind.
The wind was nuking and we where really
holding on for our lives… Again Phil
McGain took the win, with Steve 2nd and
Jesper 3rd .
We had great racing today and afterwards
we had a great Aussie Barbeque.
We will bring some pictures from racing
tomorrow, today just from the Barbie…
Overall results from open class today top
4
1st Phil McGain – Gaastra/Starboard
2nd Steve Allen- Neil Pryde/Fanatic
3rd Jesper Vesterstrom- Gaastra/Starboard
4th Jesper Orth- Severne Sails/Starboard
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