ISAF Sailing worldshampionships Cascais 2007 - Evening Report day 9

Spaniard Rafa Trujillo is the new Finn World Champion

Britons Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson claim Yingling World Championship title.

Rafael Trujillo is the new World Champion in the Finn class. The Spanish sailor won the Medal Race in one of the most spectacular contests seen so far.

The battle between Trujillo, Dutchman Pieter Jan Postma and Slovenian Gasper Vincec was truly fantastic, with the Spaniard coming out on top thanks to an extraordinary upwind sail.

Sweden’s Daniel Birgamark dominated the early proceedings, but Rafa Trujillo’s second upwind sail was devastating. The Spaniard rounded the windward mark in the lead and then literally flew to the finish line. The fight for silver was also enthralling, with Holland’s Pieter Jan Postma narrowly prevailing over Slovenian Gasper Vincec.

At the end, the Gold Cup went to Spain who has now clinched its second gold medal at the Sailing World Championships, following its success in the Tornado.

“I am very happy. It is a great feeling to win the world title in the final race. I rounded the last mark in last place but managed to recover. I realized that there was some pressure from the left-hand side of the race area and I was the only one who really took a gamble, and it paid off. I have finally struck lucky after three world championships”, said Rafa Trujillo

British Dominance in the Yngling

The Yngling race was nail-biting right to the finish. Britain’s Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson were just one point ahead of fellow countrywomen Shirley Robertson, Annie Lush and Lucy McGregor. Right at the start, Shirley Roberston suffered a penalty, had to do a 360º penalty turn, which virtually scuppered their chances of the title. The pressure on Sarah Ayton came from the North Americans Sally Barkow, Carrie Howe and Deborah Capozzi. Being in fourth place, the Americans nearly benefited from Sarah Web’s falling into the water while rounding the windward mark, but the Britons managed to hold on and reached the gold medal.

“The British team is the best in the world, which is illustrated by the fact that we have two boats quite capable of winning world championships. We had on our side the experience of having been involved in medal races before. It was good to sail in lighter conditions after a week of strong winds in Cascais”, said Sarah Webb.

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