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Olympic Regatta: Big Breeze Upsets Schedule

ATHENS, GREECE (August 16, 2004) -- The Meltemi winds raged for a second day at the Olympic Regatta, causing postponement of racing in all but the Finn and Yngling classes. Originally scheduled for competition were these two classes plus Europe, 470 (men and women), 49er and Laser, while the Mistrals (men and women) had packed their gear away to enjoy a "reserve" day. Breezes of 20 knots and higher, punctuated by gusts of 45 knots, cemented the Race Committee’s decision.

"This was the kind of day that if you had made it around the race course you would’ve been lucky," said 49er skipper Tim Wadlow (San Diego, Calif.), for whom this was to be the first day of sailing in a six-day, 16-race series. "I think the organizers made the right decision, especially since we have a class rule that says the racing must be abandoned if there are any gusts past 30 knots." The 49er, likened to a rocket ship on water, is a high-performance double-handed dinghy that typically provides sailing fans with a spectacle of breathtaking action on the racecourse. Wadlow sails with crew Pete Spaulding (Miami, Fla.).

On the Finn course, the wind was not as fierce, but still topped out at 28 knots. With flatter water than yesterday, there were neither the mishaps nor the capsizing that took place then. For the most part, the big men in this singlehanded dinghy made it look easy.

Finn sailor Kevin Hall (Bowie, Md./Ventura, Calif.) posted a 16-14, slipping one position to 14th place overall. "It was a blast to sail," said Hall, "but it showed up that I have a weakness in these conditions. It was bittersweet in that respect."

Yngling sailors Carol Cronin (Jamestown, R.I.), Liz Filter (Stevensville, Md.) and Nancy Haberland (Annapolis, Md.) got caught up in a foul situation at the start line in race one today.

”It was a traffic management issue," said Cronin. "We got pinned between two boats and none of us were making the pin. We had a couple of choices, none of which were good, and we fouled a boat and did a 720 penalty turn."

Cronin’s team finished 15th and followed it with a 10th in the second race. They are in 11th overall and looking forward to lighter air and flatter water over the coming days.

"It’s the short chop and big breeze, if I had to pick one thing we’re struggling with," said Cronin. "We’ve had some wild wipeout recoveries in the last two days. The good news is we’re making progress downwind with our technique in big breeze. Lots of boats wiped out in front of us."

Today was Haberland’s birthday. "Her present was that we didn’t wipe out on the last run!" said Cronin.

Over the course of the 15-day Olympic Regatta, all events will sail two fleet races on each day of the scheduled competition except the 49ers, which will sail three.

What’s Next -- Racing continues tomorrow, Tuesday, August 17, for originally scheduled Europe, Laser and Mistral (men and women) classes, with the 470 and 49ers joining them on what was originally scheduled as their lay day. Finn and Ynglings will take their scheduled reserve days. On Wednesday, August 18, racing is scheduled for Finn, 470, 49er and Yngling classes, with reserved days scheduled for Europe, Laser and Mistral.

Additional background information on the events, and the U.S. athletes, is available online at www.ussailing.org/Olympics/OlympicGames/2004/

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Current Standings of U.S. Sailors: (for full results http://www.sailing.org/olympics2004/)

Europe (after two races)
10. Meg Gaillard (Jamestown, R.I./Pelham, N.Y.), 9-11; 20

Finn (after six races)
14. Kevin Hall (Bowie, Md./Ventura, Calif.), 11-6-13-(17)-16-14; 60

470 Men (after four races)
2. Paul Foerster (Rockwall, Texas) and Kevin Burnham (Miami, Fla.), 1-8-2-15; 26

470 Women (after four races)
12. Katie McDowell (Barrington, R.I.) and Isabelle Kinsolving (New York, N.Y.), 12-16-3-12; 43

49er:
(has not raced) Tim Wadlow (San Diego, Calif.) and Pete Spaulding (Miami, Fla.)

Laser (after two races)
6. Mark Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 2-14; 16

Mistral Men (after two races)
23. Peter Wells (Newport Beach/La Canada, Calif.), 25-21; 46

Mistral Women (after two races)
16. Lanee Butler Beashel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), 13-16; 29

Star (racing starts Aug. 21)
(raced) Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.) and Phil Trinter (Lorain, Ohio/Port Washington, N.Y.)

Tornado (racing starts Aug. 21)
(has not raced) John Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Charlie Ogletree (Houston, Texas/Columbia, N.C.)

Yngling (after 6 races)
10. Carol Cronin (Jamestown, R.I.), Liz Filter (Stevensville, Md.) and Nancy Haberland (Annapolis, Md.), 2-10-(16)-0-15-10; 46