HiQ ahead

With Stockholm city race to come in Nokia Oops Cup

After four competitions in the Nokia Oops Cup, HiQ with Swedish skipper Klas Nylöf is now in the lead, with ten points, but it’s immensely close with Norwegian Knut Frostad on Nokia Academy, in second place on nine point. In third with five points is Thomas Johanson, aboard Team TietoEnator Audi from Finland.

HiQ has proved to be very fast in the starts and has won two victories in the offshore races and one of the City Races: the Speed Duel in Oslo. Frostad took care of the City Race victories in both Oslo and Gothenburg.

The three 60 feet trimarans, HiQ, TietoEnator Audi and Nokia Academy are now going to sail a Speed Duel in Stockholm City Race on 27 June. This will be the fifth round in Nokia Oops Cup and will be follolwed by a Fleet Race Race off Sandhamn on 28 June and then the sixth round, the Eurocard Gotland Runt on 2 July.

One week before the competitions in Stockholm City Race, Klabbe Nylof is thrilled: "We have a strong, young team and we know the boat well. Now we also have done what had to be done on the boat, and can stay focused on the sailing."

He’s looking forward to compete in his home city and holds on to the strategy from earlier races: to be the first one over the starting line and to sail the boat without making any mistakes. "Taking the lead at once is very important, since it’s always harder to catch up when you come from behind. The one who is in the lead can more easily control the situation."

Standings in Nokia Oops Cup after four out of eleven competitions:

1) HiQ Sailing Team, Klas Nylöf, Sweden, 10 p
2) Team Nokia Academy, Knut Frostad, Norway, 9 p
3) Team TietoEnator Audi, Thomas Johansson, Finland, 5 p

Schedule Nokia Oops Cup, Stockholm:

June 26, ProAm-tävlingar, Skeppsbron.
June 27, Trimaranerna races in a Speed Duel, outside Skeppsbron 17.00-18.30.
June 28, Fleet Race, course racesr in Sandhamn 13.00-17.00.
June 30, Presskonferens Eurocard Gotland Runt, Sandhamn. 15.00
July 2, Start Eurocard Gotland Runt, Sandhamn, 13.00