Jablonski celebrates his victory in Rio
Karol Jablonski, who slipped to fifth in the match race world rankings, has shown that he is still one of the greats in sailing. At the Match Race Brasil he defeated the Brazilian superstar Raging Grael 2-1 in an exciting final.
"It was a great event. Lots of sponsors, great media interest, live reports on television. Hard to believe," reports the German Pole.
Jablonski, who won the championship championship in Hamburg a month ago, sailed on the Bénéteaus 40.7 with a mixed team. Four Brazilians joined his three-man regular crew. But after losing to record medalist and longtime America's Cup tactician Torben Grael in the preliminary round, he got better and better and finally won the final. Jablonski comments: "After the first defeat, I was able to control him in the second and third pre-start phases and clearly win the starts. That was decisive."
Also represented in the field of the eight crews was the ISAF Rolex World Sailer of the Year Robert Scheidt. But he did not get beyond the last place. "We didn't start that badly, but our maneuver mistakes cost too much," says the two-time Olympic champion and seven-time world champion in laser. "I'm very tired from the season's travels and competitions. I'll be on vacation for the rest of the year."
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