Yachting: Falling-out fires up 470 Olympic trials

By JULIE ASH


Competition in the 470 class at next month's Olympic trials has been thrown wide open by the split of 2002 world champions Simon Cooke and Peter Nicholas.

The pair have had a falling-out and Scotland-based Nicholas will now sail with Aucklander Matt Davies in the trials at Torbay, on Auckland's North Shore, and Cooke will team up with another Auckland sailor, Alistair Gear.

"We have decided to move on for one reason or another," Cooke said. "I'd rather not get into the details because we haven't really resolved a few things."

Cooke said it was obviously a difficult decision to make, "but if you are not happy you can't win".

"The sailing I have done with Peter has been really good. We have won a European and a world championship, which is not an easy feat.

"We went to the Olympics last time [they finished seventh] so I couldn't really ask for a lot more out of what we have done together."

Although teaming with Gear is entirely new, Cooke is confident of winning the Olympic spot.

"You have just got to back yourself and give everything. I'd like to think we have a very good chance of winning. It should be a pretty positive combination for New Zealand for the future."

Yachting New Zealand chief executive Simon Wickham said the break-up was hugely disappointing.

"Obviously, having won the world champs they were a strong medal opportunity," he said. "But I am sure there is no one more disappointed than themselves.

"Two-handed sailing is a little bit like a marriage where you live in each other's pockets for a number of years, and I guess they tried to work it out but it is obviously something they can't resolve."

Wickham said it was a great chance for Gear and Davies to learn from former world champions, and "it will make the trials really interesting, that's for sure".

Eight 470 crews will take part in the trials, which start on January 16.

Cooke and Nicholas are not alone in having a shaky trials build-up. Phil Keen of Christchurch, who sails with brother Steve, had recent surgery to remove his appendix. It is hoped he will be fit in time.

New Zealand has qualified in seven of the 11 classes for the Athens Games, but boardsailor Barbara Kendall is the only athlete to have secured a spot, after finishing second in the world championships at Cadiz in September.

Representatives for the other six classes will be decided at the trials.

New Zealand is still looking to qualify in the other four classes: Yngling, Tornado, men's 49ers and Star.

The Olympic quest

* New Zealand has qualified in seven of 11 classes for Athens next year: the Laser, Finn, men's and women's 470, men's and women's Mistral and the Europe.

* Mistral star Barbara Kendall is the only sailor certain of a trip to Athens.

* The Olympic trials start on January 16 at the Torbay Boating Club.

* The winners of the six classes already qualified - excepting the women's Mistral - will be sure of a place at Athens.

* Each class at the trials consists of 11 races, with sailors dropping their worst placing.