The Brazilian Nationals are on!

February 28, 2004

With the sugar loaf and Corcovado mountain setting the scenario, started today the Brazilian nationals, the first of the two preparatory events for the 2004 Gold Cup.

With a south wind ranging from 8 to 10 knots, with gusts of up to 12, the race course was set inside the Guanabara Bay. This has been a very mild summer in Brazil and today was no different, with confortable temperatures and a very weak sun hidden behind a slight layer of clouds.

Race 1 started right after 12:00, and most skippers choose the east side of the course to gain height. Signorini, Hajdu and Zielhuis were the first to tack and sought their way out of the tricky tide channel. At the first upward mark the lead belonged to Jaap Zielhuis, followed by Signorinin, Aislie, Ismael and Florent.

Under the constant winds, the downward belonged to Signorini, that quickly took over Zielhuis bringing with him Florent and Ainslie. At the end of the second mark the lead skipper was Signorini, which grabbed it and didn´t let go. At the end of the first regatta was Signorini, followed closely by Florent and Ainslie, with Barker and Ismael following pursuit.

The second regatta started much like the first, with constant winds blowing from the South. The flotilla splited between the east and west sides, with Balasz, Ainslie, Ismael, Zielhuis and Simpson on the west and the rest going east. At the first mark was Devoti in first, followed by Willems, Ainslie, Florent and Signorini.

Downwind was trickier this time on the tide channel and by the mark the lead belonged to Willems, with Bruno Prada appearing at the front group chased by Signorini, Florent, Ainslie and Devoti. At the third mark Signorini was leading, trying to repeat the feat of the first regatta, with Willems and Ainslie following, but it was not to be. Florent recovered on the fourth leg, grabbed the lead and sailed to finish first, followed by Signorini, Prada, Willems, Zielhuis, Ainslie and Barker.

Pictures of Day 1

Final Standings (not official):

Race 1

Joca Signorini - BRA 10
Guillaume Florent - FRA 73
Ben Ainslie - GBR 3
Dean Barker - NZL 14
Bruno Ismael - FRA 972
Sander Willems - NED 80
Bruno Prada - BRA 1
Luca Devoti - ITA 1
Balazs Hajdu - HUN 1
Maguila - BRA 3
David Burrows - IRL 8
Mauricio Bueno - BRA 100
Gustavo (Guanabara) - BRA 108
Jorge (Guanabara) - BRA 9
Marco Aurelio - BRA 111

Race 2

Guillaume Florent - FRA 73
Joca Signorini - BRA 10
Bruno Prada - BRA 1
Sander Willems - NED 80
Jaap Zielhuis - NED 78
Ben Ainslie - GBR 3
Dean Barker - NZL 14
Balazs Hajdu - HUN 1
Luca Devoti - ITA 1
David Burrows - IRL 8
Mauricio Bueno - BRA 100
Maguila - BRA 3
Jorge (Guanabara) - BRA 9
Gustavo (Guanabara) - BRA 108
Marco Aurelio - BRA 111

For more info: www.icrj.com.br