Sailing: Rolex Miami Olympic Class Regatta-Julie gets 34th place finish |02 February 2007

In light winds on Biscayne Bay, Julie, who totalled 278 points, had a best finish of seventh place in race number six of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) grade one event.
Speaking to Sports Nation in a telephone conversation Thursday February 1, five-time former Sportsman of the Year Julie said:

“I’m quite happy with my results. I’ve improved my sailing ability in light winds and it looks good for the future.”

Julie’s other results are as follows: 12th in race 1, 15th in race 2, 45th in race 3, 44th in race 4, 32nd in race 5, 7th in race 6, 16th in race 7, 20th in race 8, 29th in race 9, 38th in race 10, 28th in race 11 and 37th in race 12.

The 29-year-old added that his goals for this year are to meet the qualifying standard for the Olympic Games in 2008 in Beijing, China, and win a medal at the Ninth All-Africa Games in Algeria.

Julie, who left Seychelles on January 15 for Miami, United States of America, to compete in the Rolex Miami Olympic Class Regatta, is here on a two-week break before heading for South Africa to pursue with training with SailCoach.

It is to note that on the last day of the 13-race series, Tom Slingsby of Australia and Gustavo Lima of Portugal battled for the gold fleet gold medal. In the end, the Portuguese skipper won to record his first victory in an ISAF grade one event since winning the ISAF Worlds in 2003.

Slingsby settled for second position, while Michael Blackburn of Australia took third place and the bronze medal.

G. G.