Ho moves up after HK-led protest upheld
A successful protest brought forward by Hong Kong, which resulted in the opening race in the men's Mistral being abandoned, and an errant Frenchman saw Ho Chi-ho move up two places in the overall standings yesterday.
The results of the first race in the 11-race series were declared null and void by organisers after a three-pronged protest spearheaded by the Hong Kong camp was upheld.
'We were one of three participants who protested on the grounds that the whole course was not sailed. There were three outer loops but after finishing the second loop, the leaders went to the finish line and everyone followed,' explained Hong Kong team manager Daniel Lam Wing-chung.
Ho, Argentina's Mariano Reutemann and Angel Segura of Uruguay protested that organisers should have abandoned the first race because no competitor had completed the designated course within the time limit. This was upheld.
Greek windsurfer Nikos Kaklamanakis, who took the honour of lighting the 2004 Olympic torch at Friday's opening ceremony, won the first of the 11 races in the series on Sunday. Ho finished both races on the opening day in 23rd position and was 24th overall. But with the first result being dropped, he moved up to 22, due to Frenchman Julien Bontemps being disqualified for infringing measurement rules. Ho's aim is to surpass his 27th-place finish in Sydney.
Yesterday was a rest day for both men and women. While the women will have two races today, the men might have to sail an extra one, if time and the weather permits.
'There might be three races today. The organisers are committed to completing 11 races for the men but they didn't say when the abandoned race will be held,' Lam said.
The rest day will give Lee Lai-shan time to recover from the opening day when she placed third and eighth in the first two races respectively to finish in fifth place overall. San San is three points behind leader Alessandra Sensini of Italy.
'She stayed at home and rested today,' Lam said. 'This rest day is useful as it gives her more recovery time. Also this format is useful in case races cannot be completed as scheduled. It gives you a couple of reserve days to get them completed.'
