Two-times Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher claimed their first ever ISAF Extreme40 medal in their big boat sailing career at the X40 World Championships in Portoro˛ on Sunday, after being pipped to the post for gold in the very last seconds of the final race as the boat from the Netherlands relinquished third place to Team Slovenia. On the last day of the event, two of the boats competing in the first ever X40 World Championships on the Adriatic coast failed to make the start. Emotions ran high among the crew comprising Hagara, Steinacher, Olivo and Vera after the spectacular end to the week (PHOTO).
PORTOROZ (SLO). On the last day of racing at the X40 World Championships, neither Roman Hagara nor Hans Peter Steinacher moved to dissipate the tension in the air at the port of Portoro˛ after the events of the final, decisive race. “I don’t want to make any comment. We had very good days ourselves, but we let too many points slip on Thursday,” explained skipper Hagara, adding: “We had the chance to build up a bigger lead ourselves.”
With only one race able to be held on the final day of racing due to stormy conditions and heavy rain, Team Austria Red Bull went into the decisive regatta just two points behind the leading boat, Team Slovenia, skippered by Mitch Booth (NED). The situation meant that that Team Austria had to finish at least two places ahead of the newcomers from Team Slovenia to take gold in the overall standings.
The international crew of Hagara, Steinacher, Olivo and Vera rose to the challenge and did everything right despite the light rain, choppy sea conditions and winds of up to 22 knots off the Slovenian cost to sail into second place behind Team GBR, while gold appeared to be slipping from the grasp of Team Slovenia as the boat languished in fourth and last position. However, on the third and final lap of the course the crew skippered by Mitch Booth put in a final surge and were rewarded for their efforts with a present from Team Holland, pulling past the Dutch boat just moments before crossing the finishing line.
Meanwhile, Hagara, Steinacher, Olivo and Vera were forced to look on from the finishing area after having crossed the line 30 seconds before the final two boats. The last-minute overtaking manoeuvre by Team Slovenia meant that skipper Mitch Booth managed to maintain a one-point lead over his counterpart, Roman Hagara, on board the boat of Team Austria Red Bull. A tie in the overall standings would have seen Team Austria Red Bull crowned World Champions thanks to their better placing in the final race. Team France, skippered by Andreas Hagara, completed the podium in third place behind Team Slovenia (skipper Mitch Booth) and Team Austria Red Bull Extreme Sailing (skipper Roman Hagara).
Together with David Vera (ESP) and Gabriele Olivo (ITA), the double-Olympic champion duo of Hagara/Steinacher now turn their attention to the next stop of the Extreme Sailing Series Europe 2010 to be held in Cowes (GBR) at the end of July.
Final Results: Extreme40 World Championship 2010 / Portoro˛ / Slovenia:
1. SLO - The Ocean Racing Club (3-4-1-1-4-1-1-2-2-2-1-2-1-3) 79 points
2. AUT - Red Bull Extreme Sailing (1-1-3-4-1-2-4-4-1-1-2-1-2-2) 78 points
3. FRA - Team Petras (2-2-2-2-2-3-5-1-3-5-5-3-5-DNC) 61 points
4. NED - Team IWC (5-5-5-6-3-4-2-3-4-3-4-5-3-1) 49 points
5. GBR - Team Kempinski (4-3-4-3-5-6-3-5-5-6-3-4-4-4) 47 points
6. HUN - Team Nokia (6-6-6-5-6-6-6-6-6-4-6-6-6-DNC) 19 points
Images free of use for editorial purposes. Credit: Christian Prenner for Chili Sports Communication
