“GERMAN ENGINEERING” POWERS JABLONSKI AT TOSCANA ELBA CUP – TROFEO LOCMAN

Great Britain`s Chris Law leads upwind at the Toscana Elba Cup - Trofeo Locman. Image © Guido Cantini

ISLE of ELBA, Italy (May 13, 2003) – Poland’s Karol Jablonski sailed flawlessly in “Round Robin Pianosa” on Portoferraio Harbor today to advance to the quarterfinals of the Swedish Match Tour’s Toscana Elba Cup – Trofeo Locman.

In addition to his core crew, Jablonski has a couple of familiar faces sailing with him this week, German skipper Markus Wieser, former winner of Match Race Germany, is serving as tactician and Eberhard Magg, event organizer of Match Race Germany, is working the pit. For Jablonski, the “German engineering” has paid immediate dividends.

“I sailed with Markus as a tactician two years ago when I was learning match racing and now we’ve switched roles this week and it’s proven very successful so far,” said Jablonski. “The rest of my crew have been together for three years and all our time together is now paying off, I’m very happy with our boat handling, boat speed and decision-making.”

Jablonski was quick to point out that his 4-0, record was hard-earned and by no means indicates that the Polish team is relaxing going into the quarterfinals.

Magnus Holmberg in action on the first day of the Toscana Elba Cup - Trofeo Locman. Image © Guido Cantini

“It was very, very difficult out there today. We came from behind in two races on the downwind leg (against Luc Pillot and Chris Law) and good gybes and tactics were the key to us not being passed by anyone,” explained Jablonski. “It was a long day at the office and its good to have a break tomorrow to refresh and evaluate our performance.”

Joining Jablonski as an automatic qualifier is Paolo Cian of the Riveria di Rimini Sailing Team who avoided the repechage round by advancing on count-back over defending champion American Ed Baird of Team Musto, who posted an identical 2-2, record on the day.

Rounding out the day’s results, France’s Luc Pillot and Great Britain’s Chris Law of “The Outlaws” registered score lines of 1-3.

The conditions for the second day of the Toscana Elba Cup – Trofeo Locman were especially light and shifty, resulting in a two-hour delay between the first and second flights.

The Toscsana Elba Cup – Trofeo Locman continues tomorrow with the round robin repechage.

TOSCSANA ELBA CUP – TROFEO LOCMAN LEADERBOARD
Round Robin Montecristo
Skipper Wins Losses
1.Jes Gram-Hansen, DEN/Team Victory Lane 5 0*
2.Magnus Holmberg, SWE/Team Holmberg 4 1*
3.James Spithill, AUS/Team Spithill 3 2
4.Sebastien Destremau, Le Defi Areva 2 3
5.Jesper Radich, DEN/Team Radich 1 4
6.Andy Beadsworth, GBR/Team Henry Lloyd 0 5
*Advance to Quarterfinals

Round Robin Pianosa
Skipper Wins Losses
1.Karol Jablonski, POL/Jablonski Sailing Team 4 0*
2.Paolo Cian, ITA/Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team 2 2*
3.Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto 2 2
4.Luc Pillot, FRA/Team Pillot 1 3
5.Chris Law, GBR/”The Outlaws” 1 3

Round Robin Pianosa
Flight 1
Cian def. Pillot
Jablonski def. Law
Bye – Baird

Flight 2
Jablonski def. Baird
Pillot def. Law
Bye – Cian

Flight 3
Law def. Cian
Baird def. Pillot
Bye – Jablonski

Flight 4
Jablonski def. Pillot
Cain def. Baird
Bye – Law

Flight 5
Baird def. Law
Jablonski def. Cian
Bye – Pillot

For all the latest news and information about the Swedish Match Tour, visit www.swedishmatchtour.com.

About the Swedish Match Tour
· The Swedish Match Tour is comprised of nine of the world's leading professional sailing events and is proving to be the ultimate battleground of sailing.
· In addition to more than US$800,000 in individual event prize money, the Swedish Match Tour awards US$200,000 to the top eight sailors on the Swedish Match Tour, with the first-place skipper netting US$60,000.
· In addition to a US$60,000 first prize, the winner of the Swedish Match Tour receives the official Swedish Match Tour Championship Trophy, 15" (30 cm) high with 22 carat gold gilding, produced by Swedish Match Tour sponsor Wedgwood. Additionally, Wedgwood supplies runner-up prizes for second and third places as well as commemorative plaques to each event organizer.
· The Swedish Match Tour produces 155 hours of television coverage reaching more than 427 million households worldwide.
· Swedish Match Tour partners include Swedish Match, Octagon and the Match Race Association.
· Swedish Match Tour sponsors include Colorcraft, Champagne Mumm, Musto, Selden and Wedgwood.