Russia pulls up

Eugeny Neugodnikov equals Paolo Cian's number of wins at the Match Racing World Championship in Calpe

Light breeze, averaging 6 knots caused only four matches to be sailed between the 12 teams today. Russian Eugeny Neugodnikov won three matches today (against Lopez-Vazquez, Lindberg and Hansen) and is now co-leader of the World Match Racing Championship alongside Cian. However this is not an accurate pictures as Cian has four victories out of four matches while the Russian has four from seven.

Two boats were removed from the competition today after James Spithill complained yesterday and refused to sail his last match, citing rudder problems.

A Scandinavian clash started the day, with Staffan Lindberg (FIN) beating Björn Hansen (SWE). Desafio Español helmsman, Santi López-Vázquez, couldn't’t beat Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS).

After a postponement to the start due to problems reported by Hansen, the match between the Swede and Lopez-Vazquez got underway and was closely fougth, Hansen winning by the smallest of margins. Neugodnikov beat Lindberg in the following match.

In the third match it was Hansen’s turn to fall to Russian power, Neugodnikov adding his fourth point. Neugodnikov is clearly improving last year’s result when he got up to the semifinals. The Spanish team was beaten by Lindberg.

In fourth flight Col beat Gilmour who doesn't seem to be at his best this week while Spain's Lopez Vazquez got his first point by beating James Spithill. The Australian was also beaten on his next match against Gilmour, who got his second point of the round robin. Col beat Lopez-Vazquez, Cian sailed to win his only match of today and Williams beat the Russian team.

Round robin (Day 2)

Flight 1
Lindberg beat Hansen
Neugodnikov beat López-Vázquez

Flight 2
Hansen beat López-Vázquez
Neugodnikov beat Lindberg

Flight 3
Neugodnikov beat Hansen
Lindberg beat López-Vázquez

Flight 4
Col beat Gilmour
López-Vázquez beat Spithill


Paolo CIAN (ITA) – 4 pts/ 4matches
Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV (RUS) –4 pts/7matches
Sébastian COL (FRA) – 3 pts/5 matches
Staffan LINDBERG (FIN) – 3 pts/6 matches
Bjorn HANSEN (SWE) – 3 pts/6 matches
Mathieu RICHARD (FRA) – 2 pts/3 matches
Philippe PRESTI (FRA) – 2 pts/3 matches
Ian WILLIAMS (GBR) 2 pts/4 matches
James SPITHILL (AUS) – 2 pts/4 matches
Peter GILMOUR (AUS) – 2 pts/5 matches .
Ed BAIRD (USA) – 1 pts/3 matches
Santiago LOPEZ-VAZQUEZ (ESP) – 1 pts/8 matches