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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesBEN BEER FIGHTS FOR VI OLYMPIC BERTH

BEN BEER FIGHTS FOR VI OLYMPIC BERTH

Virgin Islander Ben Beer is in the thick of the competition to qualify the Virgin Islands for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Sailing his Finn class dinghy at the Gold Cup in England this week he is within seven points of grabbing the last Olympic spot for his class.
With 15 countries in contention for an Olympic spot, the battle is getting fierce for the remaining spots, and with an extra place to the Finn class there are 9 more places available at this regatta. Several top countries, USA, Brazil, and Turkey, are well placed up the fleet to qualify for the games. However in the fight for the ninth and last spot China, Austria and the U.S. Virgin Islands are 54, 55, 56 in this European dominated event. Five of nine races have been sailed, and Beer has placed just ahead of Li Hong Quan, the Chinese sailor in the last two races.
There will be only one of the final four races sailed Wednesday.
Beer continues to compete in the regatta despite the death of his father in an ultra light airplane crash on Friday. He will leave England to join his family the night after the last race.
For complete race by race results and daily commentary go to www.comnet.co..uk/finnuk

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