LaPorte, Texas. November 16, 2003.  Well, we finally know who they are: the winners of My Big Phat Greek Trials 2004. Did you get a bumper sticker?

Everyone on the Race Committee and the Olympic Sailing Committee was ready for the last two races.  US Sailing Team coaches arrived and are anxious to continue preparing the winning competitors for their journey to Athens.

The weather forecast for today was patchy clouds and thatÕs exactly what they got as the PRO set up on the Red Bluff Course with wind speeds of 10 to12 knots for the first race.  The mens 470s started first with the women 470 fleet second.  They sailed the outer course again with the lasers on the inside.  The first race went well and the second race for the 470s began shortly after 1230.  The 470s got off and then the wind began to shift way left from 155 to 105 (call the WAAAAmbulance) and then came back a bit, but race committee decided to set a double windward/leeward course with an offset mark.

Trophy presentations began about 1700 hours amid great fanfare.  In the mens 470 fleet, it was Paul Foerster/Kevin Burnham.  In the womenÕs 470 fleet, Katie McDowell/Isabelle Kinsolving held on to their lead and Mark Mendelblatt was the winner of the laser fleet.

Houston Yacht Club did an outstanding job both on and off the water for this event and I heard positive comments from everyone involved.  Special thanks are in order for Event Chair, Joanne Kolius who put together an outstanding team of volunteers and everyone worked closely with the flag officers and tremendous staff at HYC.  I was pleased to have been a part of this outstanding event.

Karen Smith

Press Officer