13th July Press Release

James Spithill (OneWorld) is the first finalist of the Trombini Trophy at Marina di Ravenna.
Derby between the Danes Jesper radich and Jes Gram-Hansen to decide the other finalist.
Spectacular races between the best skippers of the world in this speciality.

The Australian skipper James Spithill of OneWorld syndicate, challenger at the next America's Cup, is the first finalist of the 8° Roberto Trombini Trophy Challenge, the international Match Race at Marina Di Ravenna. We will know the other finalist tomorrow in the semi-final repechage between the two Danish champions Jesper Radich and Jes Gram-Hansen who won against Karol Jablonsky (Poland) taking fourth place. The skippers remaining in the race are of the highest level: Radich is number 3 in the world, Gram-Hansen number 4 and Spithill number 5.

It was a fine sunny day for the semi-finals, wind about 8-10 knots, spectacular races and masterly moves by some skippers. The fist semi was a hard match between James Spithill and Jesper Radich, 3-2 at the end of 5 breath taking matches. Crowds watched from the grandstand on the pier at Marina di Ravenna. In the second semi-final Jes Gram-Hansen won 3-1 against Karol Jablonsky who gained some penalties. As scheduled the semi final repechage has started to decide the second finalist of the 2002 Trombini Trophy Challenge, an all Danish derby between Radich and Gram-Hansen. Due to a heavy storm only the first part of the semi-final could be raced, won by Gram-Hansen. The rest of the semi-final and the finals will be on Sunday 14th, the last day of the races.

James Spithill, 25 years old and number 5 in the world ranking list comments "The Trombini Trophy Challenge in Marina di Ravenna is one of the nicest events of the match race circuit, I would like to congratulate the organizers. Today's semi-final was very difficult, Jesper Radich is very good and whether I race him or Jes Gram-Hansen in the finals it will certainly be a tough match. Spithill, ex helmsman of the Australian team of the America's Cup 2000 is now one of the key men of OneWorld Challenge. Spithill said of the America's Cup "it will be a tough challenge and it is impossible to forecast the outcome. Many syndicates have made big investments and have extremely valuable people. We aim to get as far as possible in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The challengers ? very strong, particularly Prada: The New Zealanders ? They are not so strong as in the last edition, but they are still formidable.

Tomorrow (Sunday 14th) the rest of the semi-finals between Radich and Gram-Hansen then the finals followed by the traditional and spectacular fleet regatta which concludes the Trombini Challenge programme.

SEMI-FINALS

Jes Gram-Hansen (DK) b. Karol Jablonsky (P) 3-1
James Spithill (USA) b. Jesper Radich (DK) 3-2

SEMI-FINAL REPACHAGE

Jes Gram-Hansen (DK) Jesper Radich (DK) 1-0 (to be completed tomorrow)
The winner will go on to the finals against James Spithill

CLASSIFICATION FROM 4TH PLACE

4 Karol Jablonsky (P)
5 Ed Baird (USA)
6 Gavin Brady (I)
7 Lars Nordbjerg (DK)
8 Matteo Simoncelli (I)
9 Bjorn Hansen (S)
10 Mikael Lindqvist (S)
11 Martin Angsell (S)
12 Chris Law (GB)