TMN Snipe World Championship at Leixões - Day 2
by Alexandra Trindade 12 Sep 2007 21:45 BST
Tomas Hornos & Enrique Quintero win the first race at the Snipe worlds © Alexandra Trindade
Tomas Hornos & Enrique Quintero win first race
The North-American crew, Tomas Hornos/Enrique Quintero, won the first race of the TMN Snipe World Championship, taking place until next Saturday, at Leixões. The United States double-hand crew faced some fierce competition against the mighty Japanese fleet, but managed its way to triumph under weak winds.
After a frustrating first day for all 61 competing crews, wind finally showed up at Leixões, but not stronger than a breeze. The anxiety forced the Race Committee to two general recalls, due to early start of many sailing boats, before a valid start.
From the beginning of the race the competition between the Japanese and Hornos/Quintero was clear. The Asiatic sailors adapted well to the weak wind conditions and ended the first day of races with 4 crews ranking in the top ten. Highlight should be given to Kenji Abe/Hiroshi Yamachica and Shoji Kajimoto/Nabuyuki Imai, ranking 2 nd and 3rd in the overall provisional results, respectively.
The only race of the day was challenged till the last fathoms, with Hornos and Quintero crossing the finish line barely ahead: "It was a very tactical and hard race. Because we have good sailing speed, we managed to recover the lead during the last upwind leg", so states Tomas Hornos.
The United States helmsman has no doubts that the weak shifty winds come to his advantage: "It is good for us. The Championship is going to be evenly challenged at in the end it will be a question of metres", he mentions.
Tiago Roquette/José Távora are the best ranking Portuguese crew, making 10th: "I'm satisfied. This position matches my first expectations and with the winds we're getting it's tricky to guess whatever outcome", confesses Roquette.
Highlight should also be given to the current World Champion, the North-American Augie Diaz, crewing up with Mark Ivey, finishing the race in 7 th.
Results after Day 2:
1 Tomas Hornos/Enrique Quintero – United States
2 Kenji Abe/Hiroshi Yamachica – Japan
3 Shoji Kajimoto/Nabuyuki Imai – Japan
4 Bahuru Kodama/Toshihiko Tanaka – Japan
5 Bart Bomans/Jill Ponet – Belgic
6 Victor Demaison/Alexandre Tinoco – Brazil
7 Augie Diaz/Mark Ivey – United States
8 Jerry Thompson/Kevin Funsch – United States
9 Shigeru Matsuzaki/Hiroyuri Sigiura – Japan
10 Tiago Roquette/José Távora - Portugal