Europe World Championships Overall

ROBERTSON WINS SILVER MEDAL

Ten points in the last two races - a win in the first and a consolidatory ninth in the second - was more than enough to secure Great Britain's Shirley Robertson (from Hill Head in Hampshire) the Silver Medal at the Europe class World Championships in Brazil yesterday.

Her result off the shores of Salvador, coupled with her Silver Medal at the European Championships at Hayling Island in July last year, makes her the first nominated member of the British Olympic Sailing Team for September's Sydney Olympic Games.

While 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist Kristine Roug maintained her advantage over the fleet to win the World title for the second time, Robertson came back strongly from a harsh day on Monday when she was penalised by the on the water jury for excessive kinetics.

Alongside current National, European and World Champion Ben Ainslie, she is one of the most consistent medal winners in the World Class Performance Sailing Squad, winning a medal at the last three World Championships, along with the Bronze at the 1999 Pre Olympic Regatta.

"This is an excellent result for Shirley. She will undoubtedly be disappointed not to take the World title but the consolation will be that having secured qualification for the Sydney Olympic Games she has eight months to focus on what is certainly a greater prize - an Olympic Gold Medal. I believe that she has the experience and self belief to achieve that goal," said RYA Olympic Manager John Derbyshire.

BRAZIL: Europe World Championships (Gold Fleet) Final overall after 12 races with 2 discards (day 6):

 1, Kristine Roug     (Den) 1,3,1,10,4,1,1,16,7,1,2,4     -  25pts
 2, Shirley Robertson (GBR) 1,11,2,54,3,3,2,6,3,55,1,9    -  41pts
 3, Meg Gaillard      (USA) 2,3,6,8,1,10,23,3,17,12,7,2   -  54pts
British Placings:
36, Jayne Singleton - 16,20,8,31,33,12,30,53,28,36,41,32  - 245pts
42, Kit Grime       - 35,17,25,32,14,25,28,52,48,34,31,22 - 263pts
Silver fleet (after 12 races)
62, Debbie Winstanley - 31,16,37,39,23,30,6,12,54,11,5,14 - 185pts
66, Nicky Muller    - 35,43,13,40,34,19,29,10,21,18,15,18 - 212pts
77, Kirsty Bonar    - 29,35,39,35,38,33,13,15,28,20,33,15 - 256pts

For further press information please contact Nigel Cherrie on:
Email: nigel.cherrie@rya.org.uk
Europe World Championship website: www.yachtbahia.com.br/dez99/index.html

RYA Team GBR sponsors:
World Class Performance: www.uksport.gov.uk
Sail for Gold: www.sailforgold.co.uk
Chernikeeff: www.chernikeeff.co.uk
Douglas Gill: www.douglasgill.com