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| Hungry for success Austria´s offshore asses want to keep a positive image on the RC 44 Championship Tour and want to end their debut season with success. The change of positions in the cockpit – Werner Ebenhöh returns to the main sheet in place of Roman Hagara. Udo Moser replaces Thomas Czajka and gives his debut as a trimmer – brings the Austria´s nine a strict diet. All in all 30 kilos too much, and almost only salad has been eaten in the last few days. The team is limited to 680 kilograms. After weighing there was relief within the team and various food is on their plates again. “We have 670 kilograms right now”, says mate Christian Binder, who is very confident about the next day´s Gold Cup start. “It means much more to us than a further improvement in our performance. We can keep up within two out of the three disciplines in the middle field and hope that it will show in the results.” The selected starter field which consists of mainly AC and Match Race pros, seems to be richer due to one more further attraction this coming season. The twofold Olympia champion Jochen Schümann, who won America´s Cup 2003 with Alinghi, plans an entrance in the Championship Tour 2010. A further sign for a good reputation is that Gmunden will guest again in the coming spring (29. April- 04. May). Ready for takeoff The preparation, the local team has been stationed at the Persian Golf for one week. It went according to wishes and the excitement about the next day´s start of the race is clearly visible. “While training two new sails were set, furthermore we have intensified the start exercises and tested the estuary regarding the wind characteristic”, reports trainer Alfred Pelinka. In regard to the new materials the Austrians have to listen to their gut feeling. “Shortly before the race, not one syndicate plays with open cards. We would have lied to ourselves with a spar, our technical analysis is significant enough and promises much”, says Pelinka, who worked with the Olympia champion Hagara/Steinacher or the 470 European champion Sylvia Vogl/Carlolina Flatscher. The RC 44 Gold Cup begins tomorrow with the match race competition – for the local delegation the biggest obstacle, because compared to the big time Maritimes Austria is just a developing nation. The team completed a specific training on the Neusiedlersee in Dreimann-Jollen. “The start was critical”, says Binder, who wants to keep as many duels open as possible and hopes for prey. The fleet is sailing on the Up&Down courses for the fleet race crown from Friday to Sunday. Within this period the DHL trophy will be determined. Programm: 24. November Media Day, Practice Race 25.-26. November Match Race 27.-29. November Fleet Race & DHL Trophy Details: www.rc44.com |
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