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Holmberg Wins Five Straight
to take German Match Race Lake Constance Lead
Teamwork and Aggressive Starts Key to Stunning Performance
Round Robin Results
Kressbronn, GERMANY -- July 23, 1998 -- Sailing under sunny skies in a 7.3 meter Diamont 2000, Peter Holmberg's Team Caribbean Match Racing Team dominated Day Two of the MATCH RACE LAKE CONSTANCE 1998 to take the lead in the southern Germany competition that continues through Saturday.
Helmsman Holmberg and his crew, Mikael Bjorndal (trimmer) of Sweden and Morgan Avery (bow) of St. Thomas, won all five races today (worth 1.5 points each) and left the short windward-leeward course in Kressbronn¦s harbor as the favorites for tomorrow's racing in group E, where the top three teams from both groups (A/D + B/C) will fight to advance to the semi-finals.
With a nine win and 11.5 point total after two Round Robins, Holmberg set the standard at this new ISAF Grade 1 event. After the races, the 37-year-old skipper from St. Thomas paid tribute to the excellent work of his crew: "Mikael and Morgan really gave me confidence. It¦s pretty tricky out here, especially with the fans, bit it's the kind of racing I like much because of the tight starts."
Holmberg¦s crew was able to win most of their starts in two days and will obviously be the team to beat. Holmberg himself considers Neville Wittey, Andy Beadsworth and Markus Wieser as potential semi finalists if they continue to perform well. Together with Holmberg, Wittey (Australia/7 points) and Sten Mohr (Denmark/5.5 points) qualified for the next round E.
Nearly as convincing as Holmberg's triumph in group A/D were the performances of the two British teams of Andy Beadsworth and Chris Law in the other group (B/C). After two Round Robins Beadsworth was slightly ahead of his countryman, having won eight matches in two days. Chris Law and his Nautica Racing Team won seven matches and qualified for the next round E, as did Germany¦s No. 7 ranked Wieser, who only won two matches at the first day but added four wins today. The duel between Beadsworth and Law again was decided in favor of Soling helmsman Beadsworth, whereas Law had one more win today (4) than his rivals (2).
Hosted by the Yacht Club Langenargen and the Kressbronner Segler, the event offers a 100,000 DM purse. Whenever the winds fail to appear on Lake Constance, race officials move the action to the inner harbor where the sailing power is provided by ten state-of-the-art wind machines and seating for 5,000 spectators is provided.
Holmberg's international match racing team is sponsored on the circuit by its Team Caribbean America's Cup Challenge sponsors and American Airlines. For more information contact Arlene R. Martel at 340-776-0921.
RESULTS AFTER TWO ROUND ROBINS
Skipper/Country/Age/World Ranking
GROUP A/D
Moved up to group E to qualify for semi finals:
|
1. |
Andy Beadsworth
(GBR/31/No. 35) |
9.5 points |
|
2. |
Chris Law
(England/46 Jahre/No. 2) |
9.0 points |
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3. |
Markus Wieser
(Starnberg/32/No. 7) |
8.0 points |
|
Descended to group F to sail for 7th - 12th place:
|
4. |
Morten Henriksen (Dänemark/31/No. 14) |
4.5 points |
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5. |
Mikkel Rossberg
(Dänemark/27/No. 20) |
3.5 points |
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6. |
Henrik Witzmann
(Berlin/25/No.66) |
3.0 points |
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GROUP B/C
Moved up to group E to qualify for semi finals:
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1. |
Peter Holmberg
(ISV Islands/37/No. 3) |
11.5 points |
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2. |
Neville Wittey
(AUS/40/No. 17) |
7.0 points |
|
3. |
Sten Mohr
(DEN/29/No. 6) |
5.5 points |
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Descended to group F to sail for7th - 12th place:
|
4. |
Magnus Holmberg
(SWE/36/No. 16) |
5.0 points |
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5. |
Alexander Hagen
(GER/43/No.69) |
4.5 points |
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6. |
Murray Jones
(NZL/39/No. 42) |
4.0 points |
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