(08-17-2007) - Lumpy water and 6-8 knots of wind from the southeast made for a lot of smiling faces from sailors from all over the world at the 2007 Good Luck Beijing Sinopec Qingdao International Regatta. Ben Ainslie (GBR) got off to a winning start with a 1-2 in his return to the Finn after a twelve month layoff, whilst in the two windsurfing events China recorded their best performances so far. Needless to say there were some big shifts and the current played a major issue at the starts and in calling lay lines. All classes sailed all of the races that were scheduled for the day. The big winners for the day were Ainslie, Evi Van Acker (BEL) with a 1,2 in the Laser Radial, Therese Torgersson and Vemdela Zachrisson (SWE) who had a 1, 2 in the 470 Women’s class, Bryony Shaw (GBR) who had a 1, 2 on the RS:X Women’s fleet, and newly crowned Yngling World Champions Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson (GBR) rolled a 2-1. -- Complete report: http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j19FniuqC&format=popup
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