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6 February 2006, 09:46 am

Spaniards Secure Victory In Medal Race

Yngling North American Championship 2006

Miami, Florida, USA

Monica AZON, Graciela PISONERO and Sandra AZON (ESP) won a crucial Medal Race to secure victory at the ISAF Grade C1 Yngling North American Championship in Miami, Florida, USA. A double bullet finish by the Spaniards gave them a decisive victory over World Champions Sally BARKOW, Carrie HOWE and Deborah CAPOZZI (USA).

There have been four Women's World Championships since the Yngling was selected as equipment for the Olympic Games, and three of the four Champions battled for the 2006 North American title.

Going into the Medal Race BARKOW, HOWE and CAPOZZI held a three point lead, but whilst they slipped to ninth in the double weighted Medal Race, AZON, PISONERO and AZON crossed the line first to secure their first victory in an ISAF Graded event since they lifted the World title back in 2002.

BARKOW, HOWE and CAPOZZI just held on to second place, with 2003 World Champion Hannah SWETT, Melissa PURDY and Liz FILTER (USA) seventh in the Medal Race, leaving them just a point behind their team mates.

Britain's Olympic gold medal winners Sarah AYTON and Sarah WEBB along with Victoria RAWLINSON came in fourth overall, with the fifth spot in the twelve strong fleet going to Carol CRONIN, Kimberly COURANZ and Margaret PODLICH (USA).

Anne LE HELLEY, Marion DEPLANQUE and Catherine LEPESANT (FRA), led after two races on day one, but BARKOW, HOWE and CAPOZZI captured the overall lead with a 4,1,1 set of scores on day two. A strong cold front pushed through south Florida on day three, allowing the completion of only one race. AZON, PISONERO and AZON won the lone race while the Race Committee caught five of the twelve boats over early at the start. Video replay of the start established it as a truly accurate and remarkable call.

Sunday's Medal Race was sailed in a very shifty northwesterly breeze behind the front. BARKOW, HOWE and CAPOZZI appeared to have a great start, but the boats that got off onto port early hit a major shift and established an insurmountable lead.

Marianne MIDDLETHON served as chair of the International Jury and Terry BISCHOFF led the race management.

Miami will play host to the 2008 Yngling World Championship. This year the World Championship will head to La Rochelle, France from 30 June-8 July.

The Yngling North American Championship took place as part of the Winter Circuit surrounding the ISAF Grade 1 Rolex Miami OCR, which took place from 22-27 January.

Top Ten Results

Pos	Nation	Helm	Crew	Crew	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	M	Pts
1	ESP	Monica AZON	Graciela PISONERO	Sandra AZON	4	3	2	2	(5)	1	2	14
2	USA	Sally BARKOW	Carrie HOWE	Debbie CAPOZZI	1	(5)	4	1	1	2	18	27
3	USA	Hannah SWETT	Elizabeth FILTER	Melissa PURDY	3	4	1	4	2	(13) OCS	14	28
4	GBR	Sarah AYTON	Sarah WEBB	Victoria RAWLINSON	5	2	8	5	3	(13) OCS	8	31
5	USA	Carol CRONIN	Kimberly COURANZ	Margaret PODLICH	8	(9)	3	9	4	4	6	34
6	FRA	Anne-Claire LE BERRE	Alice PONSAR	Julie GERECHT	(9)	6	5	7	9	5	4	36
7	FRA	Anne LE HELLEY	Marion DEPLANQUE	Catherine LEPESANT	2	1	7	(12)	11	3	16	40
8	NZL	Sharon FERRIS	Raynor SMEAL	Ashley HOLTUM	6	8	6	3	8	(13) OCS	10	41
9	USA	Courtenay BECKER-DEY	Laura SCHMIDT	Katy PILLY-LOVELL	7	(12)	10	10	7	6	12	52
10	CAN	Kelly HAND	Deirdre CRAMPTON	Chantal LEGER	(12)	7	11	8	10	7	20	63