SAILING NEWS
News 06
Ainslie - Sailor of the
Year for the third time
Picture:
TRIPLE Olympic gold medallist Ben
Ainslie has made history once again by
becoming the first sailor ever to be awarded
onEdition
the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Award three times.
The 31-year-old Finn star received his
award a glittering ceremony at the Quinta
de Jarama, Madrid, with Italy’s veteran
Olympic windsurfer Alessandra Sensini
named as the female world sailor of the
year after clinching her fourth straight
Olympic medal in China this summer.
The Skandia Team GBR trio of Sarah
Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson were
in the running for the female award after
their dominant display in the Yngling class
over the past year in which they won the
World and European titles before claiming
Olympic gold for Team GB in Beijing.
Great Britain’s World Match Racing
Champion Ian Williams was also shortlisted
for the men’s prize.
Ainslie, who also won the prestigious
award in 1998 and 2002, remains unbeaten
in the Finn class since 2004, and during the
award nomination period he won Grade 1
events in Sydney and Melbourne, the
Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma and the
European title as well as clinching an
unprecedented fifth world title at the Finn
Gold Cup.
By securing Olympic gold in Qingdao,
Ainslie became the greatest ever British
Olympic sailor with three golds from the
past three Games to add to his silver from
the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
On receiving his award, Ainslie comment-
ed: “I would like to give a big thank you
from my heart to everyone who made this
happen.”
“China was a massive challenge,” he
added. “It was a huge relief to come away
with the gold medal, and to be part of a
great British team which did so well, not
JUST CHAMPION: Ben Ainslie - World Sailor of the Year - again!
just in sailing but across the board.”
Five male and five female crews were Francis Joyon (FRA), Olympic gold medal- Williams (GBR). Parkinson (AUS), match racing World
shortlisted for the ISAF Rolex World Sail winning windsurfer Tom Ashley (NZL), Alessandra Sensini won the award over Champion Claire Leroy of France and
of the Year award – Ainslie was up against and Farr40 world and European Champion Ayton, Webb and Wilson, 470 Olympic Laser Radial Olympic Champion Anna
record-breaking round-the-world sailor Vincenzo Onorato (ITA) as well as Champions Elise Rechichi and Tessa Tunnicliffe (USA).
Laser SB3 selected as
approved equipment for
2009 Rolex Miami OCR
AS November blew in, so did two great status granted to US SAILING’s Rolex Miami a run to a reach when going on the attack. In
results for the SB3. US SAILING selected the OCR for its 20th anniversary in 2009.
summary...to me, the boat is lively, fun to sail,
Laser SB3 as the approved equipment for US Earlier in November the likes of Dave Perry, yet easily maneuverable - making it an excel-
SAILING’s 2009 Rolex Miami OCR event. Anna Tunnicliffe-Funk, Debbie Capozzi, lent design for match racing.” said Dave Perry.
The regatta will feature 12 Laser SB3 boats Derby Anderson and Anthony Kotoun took to Another great week for the SB3 highlights La-
and will be supported by LaserPerformance’s the waters for a weekend of match racing in serPerformance’s commitment to growing the
event team. Newport, RI on the SB3 Match. The results sport of match racing from both an equipment
The selection for official equipment in US continued to highlight the versatility and and event perspective.
SAILING’s 2009 Rolex Miami OCR will strong performance of the boat in a variety of LaserPerformance is the steward of some of
continue to build on the success of the SB3 conditions. sailing’s most recognized brands including La-
and will provide a wonderful showcase for the Winds fluctuated between 8-18 knots through- ser, Sunfish, 420, and Sailing World’s Boat of
SB3 and the sport of match racing in general. out the weekend. With a crew of 450lbs the Year – the Laser SB3. LaserPerformance
“We are thrilled to have LaserPerformance (204.5kg) Dave Perry and Anthony Kotoun products are actively sold and sailed in over 40
involved in the event and we see the SB3 as took turns at the helm. “We put it up on a tight countries worldwide. The SB3 Match is a ver-
a great boat to provide a tactical yet athletic reach and were never at risk of losing control. sion of the SB3 achieved through the addition
platform for match racing,” said Gary Bodie, We did multiple run-to-run gybes and Chris of a simple kit from LaserPerformance, the kit
organizer of US SAILING’s Rolex Miami got used to getting up on the foredeck and gy- enables the SB3 to easily switch between stan-
OCR. This year’s event is expected to see an bing the pole. Again the boats were fun to sail, dard and match race mode. For more informa-
increase in international participation, which easily maneuverable and controllable, and fast tion on the Laser SB3 visit:
could be attributed to the ISAF World Cup to accelerate...and especially downwind from
www.laserperformance.com.
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