News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Pal Zileri Make It Five Out Of Five

News

24 March 2006, 03:30 pm

Pal Zileri Make It Five Out Of Five

Maktoum Sailing Trophy 2006

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Maktoum Sailing Trophy reached its half way point in dramatic fashion today with a new name in fleet racing continuing to dominate the series. Skippered by former moto cross rider and powerboat racing star Kristian TZANOV, the Pal Zileri Sailing Team turned on a super show to complete a 100% winning record in the second round of the Maktoum Trophy at Jebel Ali Sailing Club.

On a day when north westerly onshore winds gusting up to 30 knots created an 8-10ft swell, Pal Zileri followed up their back-to-back victories on Thursday by winning all three remaining races to take a firm grip on the title race.

They did it despite having their spinnaker torn apart by the wind towards the end of the final race as they again outperformed the defending champion, Horizon FCB.

It was the perfect presentation for their visiting sponsor, Manuela MIOLA, daughter of the owner of the Italian mens' fashion empire which has given its support, and the Pal Zileri label, to the new force in Gulf fleet racing.

In Class 2 Gil SMITH was equally dominant in Blitzem, scoring a hat-trick of wins and also going through the second round unbeaten, with defending champion John ROSE in Insatiable unable to make an impression.

Conditions were spectacular, and just about perfect, for sailing, and this was one of the best day's racing since Dubai International Marine Club launched the Maktoum Trophy 15 months ago.

Maktoum Trophy 2

Sid BENSALAH, sailing manager at DIMC, said the wind's effect on the sea was like that of a 'washing machine', and it produced the most spectacular action yet in this year's four-round series.

'It was a tremendous day of sailing and the competitors, race officials and the Maktoum Sailing Trophy management team all did a fantastic job to put on such a great show,' said BENSALAH.

Pal Zileri, who had won four out of five races in the first round earlier this month, made the perfect start to the day. For the sixth time in seven races they left defending champion Horizon FCB, owned by Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al NAHYAN, trailing in second placed, with Switchblade, skippered by Will RAMAGE and Cam PRICE, third.

Pat CAHILL'S Southern Cross, Twister skippered by Karen and Glywn ROWLANDS and Jeroen LEENEN with Victory completed the top six.

TZANOV and his crew again had all the answers in race two, and on this occasion Switchblade relegated Horizon to third place, with Paul DILWORTH'S Goodrich Serdal in fourth followed by Twister and Victory.

There was simply no stoppng Pal Zileri, and they were again dominant in the final race of the second round, with Horizon finishing runners-up ahead of Goodrich Serdal Switchblade, Victory and Twister.