As Reported by Michelle Slade   11:18 AM Sun 16 Aug 2009 
Photo above by Meredith Block

33-year old Bora Gulari handily took two races in the final day of the 2009 CST Composites Moth World Championship, winning the event and becoming the first American in 33 years to win the title. 

Racing got underway about 11am in 14-15 knots, the lightest breeze of the week, in very flat water and under cloudy skies. 'I can’t believe I’ve done it,' said Gulari, from Detroit, MI. 'It’s been a fantastic competition and everyone here has been great. I worked hard for this, and put in a lot of time training with George Peet and I couldn’t have done it without his motivation. He’d get me out there and keep me on it all year. It feels wonderful to be in top place. Arnaud is an awesome sailor and has sailed so well, and Nathan, well, he’s the smartest out there on the course and he pushed me so hard. It’s been so great to sail with these guys.'

Once he knew he’d taken the first race, Gulari turned the fun dial up and relaxed into the last race, enjoying the lead down the first beat. Missing a tack going into the top mark set him back about five positions and he rounded the mark behind Psarofasghis, Payne, Bergan and Outteridge, so was in top company for the first run. From back in fifth, the downwind sensation wound it up down the track to cross first for the final time in this competition, bringing his event wins to seven, almost half of the races sailed. 

'Rounding that mark in fifth, although I was in relax mode, I just took off, I don’t know what happens but it’s an amazing feeling to be able to run like I can on this boat.' Dalton Bergan, finishing fourth, sailed a fast and tactical event, and along with Olympic Laser sailor Brad Funk, these two tidily supported the American effort in the top ten. Long the domain of the Australians and Europeans, this event has cemented the Americans as a force to be reckoned with in the international Moth fleet. 

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In the Zhik Team...

Bora Gulari wins, 
Nathan Outteridge is second, 
Simon Payne is 5th
Scott Babbage is 7th
Brad Funk is 8th
Andrew Macdougal is 12th.

Brilliant Zhik Domination in the moth!