A second victory in the 2006 Finn Gold Cup places Athens Silver medallist, Rafael Trujillo from Spain on the top of the rankings. Jonas Hoegh-Christensen is on equal points in second position after scoring a 5th place yesterday. This is the third change of leadership since the start of the championship where no sailors are yet in charge! Ed Wright (GBR) and Emilios Papathanasiou are both on 20 points in 3rd and 4th place.

It was a difficult day on the water. The wind came from every direction and the racing was postponed until 1500. The swimming contest was on again providing some refreshing interlude in the roaring temperatures.

After two general recalls, race 4 started with 15 knots and a triangle course. The first beat was fair with the top three choosing different options: Rafael Trujillo repeated the previous day’s tactic on the right of the beat to pass the top mark ahead of Edward Wright who got just as much breeze on the left corner while Waclav Szukiel (POL) got to the top mark in third position after sailing in the middle of the course!

With the wind decreasing to 12 knots the reaches didn’t offer much of a chance to overtake. The racing committee had to shorten the course and finally set the finishing line at the end of the second beat.

The top three remained in the same placing. Florian Raudaschl (AUT) took 4th place and is in 11th position overall. He is realising a good regatta so far commenting: “I finally could take time off work and train properly to prepare for this regatta.” Florian has taken the reins of the family loft four years ago and is coached by one his father main rival in the Finn class Christian Scheineker. Jonas Hoegh Christensen lost two places on the second upwind finishing 5th.

The second race of the day had to be cancelled after the wind took a 100 degrees shift on the second upwind leg. Iain Percy who was leading and Jonas Hoegh-Christensen in second place were counting on this race where most of their direct opponents were in very difficult situation: Emilios Papathanasiou, Rafael Trujillo and Ed Wright were sailing in 50 positions. The top sailors in this race, while disappointed to miss a good opportunity to gain some valuable points on their rivals understood the decision of the racing committee.

Chance seems to be finally turning for Junior sailor from Poland Piotr Kula. After two previous disqualifications at the start (a Black Flag and a disqualification after a collision) the young Pole was the first Junior in the day’s race in 24th place.
Mark Andrews is still leading the 16 junior fleet in 23rd place overall. Henry Bagnall has climbed up the overall ranking in 37th place after scoring a 25th. Third placed Junior is Krysztof Dabkowski (POL) in 50th position.

Two races are scheduled for today.