SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The 2000 Soling World Champion team of Jeff Madrigali, Craig Healy, and Hartwell Jordon won the US Olympic Team Trails in the Soling in the waters of San Francisco Bay, securing the last spot on the USA's 2000 Olympic Team. Hosted by the San Francisco Yacht Club and launching out of Treasure Island, racing for the coveted ticket to Sydney began June 3 as eight teams vied to place in the top four with the aim of staying alive for the semifinal round in the match-race series format.
The Madrigali, Healy, Jordan trio convincingly dispatched with competitors, winning 21 preliminary round matches before posting another seven consecutive wins in the semifinal round. The finals saw the team squaring off against Ed Baird, 1996 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, and the talented crew of Dean Brenner and Tom Burnahm. Baird and company broke the winning streak, handing Madrigali, Healy, and Jordan their first loss of the series in the opening round of the finals Saturday, June 10. Nonplussed, however, the team came back with four winds over Baird and crew, and despite ending the day with a second loss, remained ahead four wins to two losses. Sunday's action saw a strong start and an eventual win in the first match for the Baird camp. Madrigali and crew came back, posting consecutive wins. The win in race 12 was their seventh and sealed the deal, ending the series and paving the way to Olympic competition which begins September 16 in Sydney.