Cottonfield ISAF Match Racing World Overall

WHEN: August 15th to 22nd 1999
WHERE: Skovshoved Harbour, Copenhagen, Denmark
WHO: Ten of the best match racers in the world

JESPER BANK WINS THE FINALS

Jesper Bank of Denmark won the Cottonfield ISAF Match Racing World Championships, defeating Frenchman Bertrand Pace 1 - 0 in the final.

Bank, a double Olympic medallist had defeated the defending champion, and world number one, Peter Gilmour of Australia, 3 - 0 in the semi-final.

Bertrand Pace, who will skipper one of the French challenges at the America's Cup in Auckland, had a similarly convincing victory over another Dane, Sten Mohr in the other semi-final.

Both Bank and Pace had held 2 - 0 leads overnight, and in the 5 to 8 knot breeze this morning, had little trouble in completing their demolition of the opposition.

As a huge crowd gathered on the seawall at Skovshoved Harbour, to cheer on their local hero, the already light breeze faded, causing delay after delay.

Thousands of Danes, who had come by every conceivable form of transport, including boat, car, bicycle and rollerblade, were amazingly patient and good natured as they waited for the final.

Even brief showers during a mostly sunny day did not dampen their enthusiasm.

With a time limit of 4 pm set as the latest for a start, the French were hoping the wind would stay away, as if the final could not be sailed, they would win on a countback.

Eventually, after several false attempts to set a course, the race officer managed to get a start with just two minutes to spare before the deadline.

Despite the light winds, the pre-start jousting was aggressive, with the Dane managing to force the Frenchman into an infringement.

Pace eventually got a marginally better start, but Bank picked up his own private breeze, and sailed around the outside of his rival, until he could tack and cross ahead.

By the first mark the home team had an eleven second advantage, and the French still had a penalty to do, while the crowds ashore were getting revved up.

When Jesper Bank and his crew eventually took the winning gun and the title, the excitement on the seawall was at fever pitch, Danes love their sport, especially when their team is winning.

Bank, the smiling Dane, was a national hero before this success, but now his status is even higher, though he showed he still has a way to go, when he failed to walk on the water after being thrown in to celebrate his victory.

Although the final was severely curtailed from the scheduled best of five race series, to a one race shoot-out, the crowds were happy, and the long frustrating wait was forgotten.

In the sail off for third place, Sten Mohr defeated Peter Gilmour and his all Japanese Pizza-La team.

RESULTS:

    1.  Jesper Bank        Denmark
    2.  Bertrand Pace      France
    3.  Peter Gilmour      Australia
    4.  Sten Mohr          Denmark
    5.  Magnus Holmberg    Sweden
    6.  Marcus Wieser      Germany
    7.  Dean Barker        New Zealand
    8.  Chris Law          Britain
    9.  Morten Henriksen   Denmark
    10. Jochen Schumann    Germany

Event Website: www.sail.dk