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Three set sail for world races
Hamilton Spectator, Theresa Macinnis, August 27, 2001 |
Next year Claudia Strobele, Steven Boleantu and Jeremy Crowder will be competing in the 2002 International Europe Class World Championships in their own harbour.
Yesterday, the three sailors from the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club earned a berth in the World Championships, to be held in Hamilton Aug. 21-25, 2002. Eighteen competitors began the regatta Friday and ended after completing nine races yesterday at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.
Aside from the opportunity to gain a berth to next year's World's, it was also a national qualifier regatta. Many in the field were hoping to earn points toward a spot on the Canadian national team. Gaining points will give them a national team status and will open them to amateur funding, the first step toward the Olympics. It wasn't clear who qualified for the National team status.
The Canadian Yachting Association will review yesterday's outcome, the nature of the competitor, the number of races, caliber of race and quality of the conditions when awarding the points. The weekend had a three-fold purpose, said race chairman, Mark McAuley. "It was to qualify for points for the national team, to gain a berth at the Europe and it was also a workout for any competitor that wanted the opportunity to sail here before the worlds."
Due to some favourable wind conditions, four races were held on Friday, four on Saturday and one yesterday, said McAuley. Originally, three races were scheduled for Friday, four for Saturday and two yesterday. "The reason we were pushing for four and four was because we predicted unsettled weather for Sunday (yesterday)," said McAuley. A weather front had moved in during the night and there was a southwestly 15-knot breeze yesterday at 8 a.m. He said it built to 20-22 knots during the morning, which was a good test of the sailor's physical conditioning and stamina. "It gave the competitors a chance to get some high-speed surfing in, while the wind came from the opposite direction and it gave them a chance to test the bay for a different direction," said McAuley.
Claudia Strobele placed first for the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club while finishing fourth overall. Tory Crowder came in second for Hamilton, and placed seventh overall. Other local finishers were the only male competitors -- Steven Boleantu who placed 14th overall, Jeremy Crowder 15th and Meggan MacCallum who placed 16th.
Since Canada is the host country for next year's world championship, they were allowed four seats for the men and four seats for the women. The top four Canadian women -- Rachel Dennis, Magalie Bonneau-Marcil, Claudia Strobele and Stephanie Taylor -- earned berths to the worlds next year.
The three-day national regatta, hosted by the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, served as a qualifier for the 2002 International Europe Class World Championships. Photo: Kaz Novak, the Hamilton Spectator
Royal Hamilton Yacht Club's Claudia Strobele (boat No. 36) and Genevieve Gaudreau (No. 29) battle it out during final day of the Europe Class regatta. Photo: Kaz Novak, the Hamilton Spectator
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