Unless something very strange happens, Bettina BONELLI (ITA) is the 2003 IODA European Girls champion. With one race to sail she can if necessary count back a discard of 3 points to have a minimum 14 point lead over local sailor Tajana GANIC.

Bettina, from the famous F.V. Riva del Garda club, came a modest 107 in last years Worlds and did not make this year's Worlds team, but that is all forgotten now. Now in her final year in Optimists she intends to sail a 29er or 470 next. Three girls, Marina PENATE (ESP), 2002 champion Alessandra FERLICH (ITA) and Susanne BAUR (GER) are tied on equal points before the final race.

Among the boys the situation is much less clear, not least because a further four races are theoretically possible. 2002 Worlds silver medallist Stjepan CESIC (CRO) scored two firsts and is now within 6 points of the leader Piotr RADOWSKI (POL).

Reigning champion Joaquin Blanco (ESP) is currently third but a close battle seems likely. Recent winner of the Games of the Small States of Europe, Benji BORG of Malta has moved up to fifth, quite some performance from the representative of a country that only started to race Optimists in 1997. Best performances of the day from the

Source: Robert Wilkes