Good start for RYA Team GBR at 470 Worlds in Koper, Slovenia

A total of 148 boats have gathered in Koper, Slovenia (8-17 September, 2001) for the 470 world championship, including entries from 28 Countries. The 102 entries in the men’s fleet have been split into three groups and they will sail a maximum of six races before being divided into Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets. The 47 women competitors will sail as one fleet with the aim to complete 12 races.

RYA Team GBR sailors Nick Rogers and Jo Glanfield got off to a good start in the light 4-10 knots of breeze and sunshine. In the shifty conditions they sailed well and after day one they are in first place overall in Qualifying Group 1, after recording a 10th place and two seconds. Team mates, Graham Vials and Dan Newman, also put in a good performance and logged three top 10 results to put them in third position overall in Qualifying Group 2.

After a 15th in the first race of the women’s regatta, RYA Team GBR sailors Josie Gibson and Saskia Clark mastered the conditions in the second race and put in their first win of the regatta. Team mates Libby Greenhalgh and crew Alison McLeod and Christina Bassadone and crew Jenny Heeley, struggled to keep the right side of the shifts in the second race of the day and consequently their results suffered, dropping them down the fleet.

Results (day 1, overall after three races) Qualifying Group 1-Men

1st Rogers/Glanfield GBR

2nd Conte/Dela Fuenta ARG

3rd Belcher/Belcher AUS

Qualifying Group 2-Men

1st Braslavets/Matvienko UKR

2nd Martinez/Cantero ESP

3rd Bonnaud/Bonnaud FRA

Team GBR

6th Vials/Newman

Qualifying Group 3-Men

1st Kosmatopoulos/Trigonis GRE

2nd Posti/Hongisto FIN

3rd Hojland/Rahbaek DEN

Team GBR

17th Plummer/Hawkley

Qualifying Group 4-Women (day 1, race 1)

1st Maxwell/Kratzing USA

2nd Torgersson/Zalhrisson SWE

3rd Provan/Girke CAN

Team GBR

22nd Greenhalgh/McLeod

34th Gibson/Clark

38th Bassadone/Heeley

Qualifying Group 4-Women (day 1, race 2)

1st Gibson/Clark GBR

2nd Duerig/Meier SUI

3rd Grobe/Schroeder GER

Team GBR

43rd Greenhalgh/McLeod

44th Bassadone/Heeley