After sailing 3 races today, the top 6 in the 49er class didn’t change since yesterday. The only difference is in the fact that Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes (GBR) have lost their 7 points margin, now only 1 point from second placed World and Olympic champions Martinez/Fernandez from Spain, and 2 points from the Hansen brothers (DEN) in 3rd position.

No change either in the top 3 ranking for the 2.4 m class. It is however the first race won in Hyères by Norwegian Bjornar Erikstad. Megan Pascoe (GBR) wins one place in the generall results in 4th.

Tom Slingsby (AUS) is increasing his lead on the 137 Lasers after winning his 3rd race and placing second in the next. Mate Arapov (CRO) has collected one of the 24 Black flags distributed among the 4 Laser groups today. He is conserving his second position thank to his victory in the daily first race. Princess Sofia regatta champion, Maciej Grabowski from Poland is taking the 3rd position after two 3rd places. Among the early starters is Paul Goodison, the Briton is forced to count his disqualification after breaking his mast in the 3rd race. Relegated to the 33rd place, he wasn’t far from missing his selection in the Gold group (protests pending).

Same scenario in the Yngling where the American team of Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe and Debbie Capozzi is keeping a small 1 point leads over their British rivals. Sarah Ayton, Emma Rawlinson and Sarah Webb are closing the gap after scoring a first place on Race 6. Sharon Ferris with new crew Raynor Smeal and and Ashley Holtum have reached the third position after excelling in the first race (1-10).

The Tornados sailing in the further racing area in the bay of Hyères enjoyed a 20 knots Easterly breeze and nice choppy waves. The Australians are confidently dominating with a win in the second race. Multiple World and European champion, Roland Gaebler sailing with Gunnar Struckmann (GER) have climbed to the second position after consistent sailing in second place all day.
After a slow start in the regatta, “Movistar” Volvo racer, Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz are enjoying their favourite windy conditions collecting another victory and scoring a 7th to grab 5 places in the overall rankings to rest in 3rd position.

Sophie de Turkheim (FRA) and Page Railey (USA) have finally discarded their 1st race disqualification to lead the 80 boats Laser radial fleet in first and second place respectively. Lijia Xu is only 3 points from the lead in 3rd place, she is showing the greater consistency with scores within the top 6. Despite loosing 2 places in the overall results, she was by far the best performer in the women single handed dinghy fleet after winning the first race and placing second in the next.

After only 1 year in the Finn class, Ed Wright, who had made promising debut in Hyères last year by finishing 3rd in Miami and Hyères, is getting an edge on the Finn fleet after claiming the first race and placing 2nd. “Ed has been training physically hard over winter winning 10 kilos of muscles!” explains his coach Chris Gowers. Young Croatian sailor Marin Misura is in second position only 1 point from Princess Sofia regatta winner, Jonas Hoegh-Christensen from Denmark. The second race of the day was won by Dan Slater (NZL) in 7th place overall.

The Israeli teams are leading the 470 fleet both in the Men and the women division. In the Men, 2005 SOF winners are conserving their lead, over the Bonnaud brothers (FRA) who have stolen the second place from the Italians Zandona/Trani now in third. A good day realised by Greek team of Panagiotis Mantis and Theodoros Polyhronidis who climbed to the 8th position after scoring a second and a 1st place.

Adi Gilboa and Vered Bouskila (ISR) Bronze medallists in the 2005 470 Junior World Championship, are reaching the top place in the 470 ranking in front of British team of Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clarke 2nd in the ISAF World ranking and in the 38th SOF after 6 races. They are one of the best improver gaining 7 places in the classifications. The Japanese Yoshosako/Ohkuma scored their worse result (11-22) relegated in third place.

Source: Media Office