Tied for the lead

Rafael Trujillo is now tied for the lead with Jonas Hoegh-Christensen at the Finn Gold Cup

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 fifth place today. 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 third and fourth place.
 
It was a difficult day on the water. The wind came from every direction and the racing was postponed until 3PM. The swimming contest was on again providing a refreshing interlude in the roaring temperatures.

After two general recalls, race four started with 15 knots and a triangle course. The first beat was fair with the top three choosing different options: Rafael Trujillo repeated yesterday tactic on the right of the beat to round the top mark ahead of Ed Wright who got just as much breeze on the left hand side, while Waclav Szukiel (POL) got to the top mark in third position after sailing up the middle of the course!

With the wind decreasing to 12 knots the reaches didn’t offer much chance to pass boats. 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 place. Florian Raudaschl (AUT) took fourth place and is in 11th position overall. He is having a good regatta so far. ”I finally could take time off work and train properly to prepare for this regatta,” he said. Florian has taken the reins of the family loft four years ago and is coached by one of his fathers main rivals in the Finn class Christian Scheineker. Jonas Hoegh Christensen lost two places on the second upwind finishing fifth.
 
The second race of the day had to be cancelled after the wind took a 100 degree 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 race committee.
 
After a long day on the water and sailing back under stormy weather and showers, the sailors enjoyed the “Tuna on the BBQ” party organised by the Labud Yacht Club. Two Optimists were filled with ice and beer and brightened all the spirits. T. Mobile, the events main sponsor, presented prizes to the previous race winners.
 
Two races are scheduled on Friday.

Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail umber	R1	R2	R3	R4	Tot
1	TRUJILLO RAFAEL JOAQUIN	ESP 100	9	2	1	1	13
2	CHRISTENSEN JONAS HOGH	DEN 2	2	4	2	5	13
3	WRIGHT EDWARD	GBR 111	1	10	7	2	20
4	PAPATHANASIOU EMILIOS	GRE 7	4	1	5	10	20
5	BIRGMARK DANIEL	SWE 11	11	6	3	8	28
6	TILLANDER JOHAN	SWE 736	12	5	13	6	36
7	PERCY IAIN	GBR 54	7	3	21	12	43
8	COOK CHRISTOPHER	CAN 41	21	7	10	13	51
9	GUILLAME FLORENT	FRA 73	19	11	12	11	53
10	MOBERG PEER	NOR 1	10	9	14	32	65
11	RAUDASCHL FLORIAN	AUT 271	16	34	19	4	73
12	POSTMA PIETER JAN	NED 842	8	23	4	39	74
13	TAPIO NIRKKO	FIN 216	23	15	9	27	74
14	NOSSITER ANTHONY	AUS 221	25	14	22	20	81
15	ISMAEL BRUNO	FRA 972	15	22	31	14	82
16	GOODBODY TIMOTHY	IRL 5	26	37	16	9	88
17	KURET KARLO	CRO 11	37	20	26	7	90
18	HOWARD MATT	GBR 550	6	13	6	68	93
19	SZUKIEL RAFAL	POL 7	17	18	33	29	97
20	ARRARTE PABLO	ESP 310	27	25	29	17	98
21	SZUKIEL WACLAW	POL 12	32	28	38	3	101
22	ANDREWS MARK	GBR 88	24	27	24	34	109
23	HRUBY MICHAL	CZE 9	39	33	17	21	110
24	DRAGOUTSIS ALEXANDROS	GRE 8	18	31	48	15	112
25	MAIER MICHAEL	CZE 1	34	16	47	16	113
26	MIŠURA MARIN	CRO 25	28	17	34	36	115
27	GUZYS GIEDRIUS	LTU 7	14	30	30	43	117
28	GREIG ED	GBR 625	38	26	11	52	127
29	O'GRADY AARON	IRL 10	31	19	35	42	127
30	SLATER DANIEL	NZL 1	3	8	OCS	19	130
31	KLJAKOVIĆ GAŠPIĆ IVAN	CRO 524	5	12	OCS	18	135
32	POGGI GIORGIO	ITA 117	29	39	20	50	138
33	MIŠURA BARTUL	CRO 69	40	24	23	53	140
34	RAILEY ZACH	USA 4	22	21	27	71	141
35	BORISOV OLEXIY	UKR 1	49	41	25	37	152