Olympics: Tornado and Star previews
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Australians Colin Beashel and David Giles, world champions in 1998, Olympic bronze medalists in 1996, remain in the top frame in the star-studded Star keelboat class on form in European regattas over the past two years.
Newcomers from the Finn class – big boys who know how to hike hard – have made an impact in the class since Sydney 2000. One of them, Freddie Loof, crewed by Anders Elkstrom (Sweden) won both the world and European championship this year.
Another, Ian Percy (Great Britain), crewed by Steve Mitchell, won the world championship in 2002.
Multi-talented US sailor Paul Cayard, crewed by Phil Trinter in winning the US trials beat the 2000 gold medallist Mark Reynolds and are rated a strong chance by Colin Beashel.
But it was Brazilian Torben Grael who won in the Star class and with a race to spare. Quite a feat, considering the competitors.
He is now the only sailor to win 5 Olympic medals ever.
If his brother (and Tornado silver medalist) Lars wouldn´t have lost his legs, Brazil wouldn´t be last in Tornado today
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