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11 April 2006, 11:35 am

Shock Early Results

Optimist South American Championship 2006

Cartagena, Colombia

After the first five races in Cartagena, Colombia places one to three in the 194 boat South American Championship are occupied by… Singaporeans! Leader is Griselda KHNG, whose previous claim to fame is that she handed the results of the 2012 Olympic Games venue vote to the President of the IOC.

KHNG is followed by her compatriots Timothy SEET and 2005 Asian Champion Sean LEE.

Prior to the event the Executive Director of Singapore Sailing had promised, 'Our sailors are now at the level where we can match the world's best,' and hoped for a top five place. The team is coached by Peruvian Fernando ALEGRE, known as 'Happy' which he probably is this morning.

The highest of the South American entrants is Peru's Francesco PULIATTI, a somewhat distant fourth place, 14 points behind third place LEE. Meanwhile Alejo MORALES is the best placed of the home Uruguayan sailors in sixth.

A further Asian threat to American dominance is Faizani BIN YAHAYA of Malaysia who has registered 4,1,1,1,39 and will benefit when she takes the first discard after six races.

Winds are mainly light, five knots on day one, six to ten on day two.

International Optimist Dinghy Association (As Amended By ISAF). Image, The Opis are underway in Cartagena:© www.suropti2006.com