 The nomination period for Torben Grael began this year calling tactics aboard Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup, challenging for the right to contest the America’s Cup Match against Team New Zealand. However, with the Prada team eliminated in the semi-finals, Grael turned his attentions back to the Star, a class in which he already holds three Olympic medals.
Dominating in the Star is notoriously difficult, but Grael charged straight into second place at the ISAF Grade 1 SPA Regatta in May, before claiming Gold at the Athens 2003 Regatta.
Whilst not competing in the Star, Grael sails big boats and ranks one of his achievements over the past twelve months as helming the 112 foot sloop Ipanema to victory in Division 1 of the New Zealand Millennium Cup at the expense of fellow nominee, Neville Crichton who had to settle for second.
Tactician - Prada Challenge, 2002 Louis Vuitton Cup (eliminated semi-finals)
The Achievements of Torben Grael
1st - Millennium Cup Super-Yacht Cup, February 2003
2nd - SPA Regatta, May 2003 - Grade1
1st – Circuito Vela Brasil de Match Race (Match), June 2003 - Grade 4
6th - Kieler Woche, June 2003 - Grade 1
1st - Athens Regatta, August 2003 - Ungraded
32nd - 2003 ISAF World Championship - Star, September 2003 - Grade W
ISAF World Sailing Rankings – Open Keelboat – Star (1 October 2003) = 15
| Name |
Torben GRAEL |
| Date of Birth |
22119 |
| Place of Birth |
Sao Paulo, BRA |
| Profession |
Graduated in Business Administration - UFF |
| ISAF Sailor ID |
BRATG1 |
| Website |
www.torben-grael.com |
| Age started sailing |
7 |
| First boat sailed |
Penguin |
| Age started racing |
14 |
| First boat raced |
Snipe |
| What inspired you to take up sailing? |
Family tradition |
| How did you buy your first boat? |
Grandpa |
| Which was your first sailing club? |
Rio Yacht Club |
| First Event competed in and Year |
Snipe Brazilian Championship in 1975 |
| First Event won and Year |
Snipe Junior Brazilian Championship in 1977 |
| Principle achievements |
Olympics |
| Principle achievements |
Gold - Star 1996, Savannah |
| Principle achievements |
Silver - Soling 1984, Los Angeles |
| Principle achievements |
Bronze - Star 1988, Pusan |
| Principle achievements |
Bronze - Star 2000, Sydney |
| Principle achievements |
|
| Principle achievements |
Winner Louis Vuitton 2000 |
| Principle achievements |
Star World Champion 1990 |
| Principle achievements |
Snipe World Champion 1987 1983 and 1978 |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
Olympic gold medal at Savanah in 1996 |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
4 medals in 5 Games |
| Detail the personal highlights of your sailing career to date |
Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000 |
| What are your future sailing aspirations? |
2004 Athens Olympic Games |
| What are your future sailing aspirations? |
Volvo Ocean Race |
| What are your future sailing aspirations? |
America's Cup 2007 |
| Briefly state what sailing means to you |
Family apart, it means everything |
| Who has had the greatest impact or inspiration in your sailing career and why? |
My grandfather who gave me my first boat and my uncles who gave me most of my knowledge |
| What other sports do you participate in outside of sailing? |
Tennis, Squash, Vollyball, Football and Cycling |
| Who do you consider to be the greatest sailor in the World and why? |
Paul ELVSTROM for achieveing so much, being so far ahead of his time |
| Briefly state what being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award 2003 means to you |
it is a great honour to be nominated for the third time |
| if voted as the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2003, briefly state what this will mean to you |
it would be a huge satisfaction and it would mean the coronation of 30 years of racing |
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