Olympic Games 1996

TORNADO - RACE 8 RACE REPORT - 28 July 1996

The second Multihull (Tornado) race of the day started with the wind at 8 knots from 175 degrees.

After the start the wind clocked to the right leaving the boats on the left of the course out of contention, with the boats from the middle and right of the course leading the race. Roy Janse and Mar Peers (CAN) had a handy lead at the windward mark, taking control of a race for the first time in the regatta, and leading over the Germans by four seconds.

As the race progressed the Race Committee made the first of a number of course changes as a thunder storm passed from west to east just to the south of the course area.

Rounding the windward mark for the second time, there was a change in positions, with Germany taking the lead followed by Australia, Belarus, Spain and Italy.

By the leeward mark, the positions had changed again with AUS leading GER, ESP, ITA and BLR. Mitch Booth (AUS) came in to the gate marks two boat lengths ahead of Roland Gaebler and Frank Parlow (GER), with forked lightning flashing on the course.

Mitch Booth and Andrew Landenberger (AUS) showed the skill that has earned them two world titles and the latest European Championship, to win their third race of the regatta. To date no other team has won more than one race. Roland Gaebler (GER) the current World Champion moved through the fleet to finish in second position.

As the fleet goes into races 9 and 10 tomorrow, the top five boats are separated by only 15 points. Positions are as follows:

1st Fernando Leon and Jose Ballester (ESP) 22 points, placings 2-2-4-(5)-5-2-4-3 2nd Mitch Booth and Andrew Landenberger 30 points, placings 1-5-6-2-14-(17)-1-1 3rd Andreas Hagara and Florian Schneeberger (AUS) 36 points, placings 4-3-5-6-1-7-10-(13)

There are two races scheduled for tomorrow, Monday 29 July, and the final 11th race on Tuesday 30 July.