The ISAF Grade 1 Grand Final of the Nations Cup, held in association with Failte Ireland, the Irish Sports Council, and Smart Telecom, entered its third day of racing in Crosshaven yesterday. The women’s fleet took to the water first as the Grand Final entered the middle of the second series of the round robin, with each team becoming more aware of how important every win is.

Tight At The Top

The battle for the lead has tightened as the Australians, led by Nicky SOUTER, and the French are equal in the overall standings with Bermuda’s Paula LEWIN and Denmark’s Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN hot on their heels. The Dutch team of world number two Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN is still a little off the pace in fifth place, although they still have one race in hand as they had their second bye in flight ten yesterday morning.

The Brazilian team of Rossana RAMOS were short as one of their crew injured her knee and an Irish replacement crew of Rathnait LONG quickly filled the empty position. However loyalties were divided when the Brazilian and Irish team met up in the first flight of the morning in match two. A battle ensued and it was to be the Brazilians who took the win - their first of the Grand Final.

South Africa Lose Open Top Spot

As the afternoon progressed the wind shifted into the east and dropped slightly to a lighter ten knots. The tide dictated more than wind and gave all the tacticians extra work to figure out the favoured side of the course.

Mathieu RICHARD was 5-0 for the day © Robert BATEMAN

The open flights were delayed this afternoon, as the course was re-positioned to the new change of wind direction. South Africa and Team Shosholoza helm Ian AINSLIE fall from the top spot after losses against France’s RICHARD and the USA’s Brian ANGEL. The defeat to France was particularly emphatic, as world number seven RICHARD and his crew shot ahead and won by more than ten boat lengths. The level of competition is heightening for all the sailors and the pressure is beginning to show for the defending team. As well as RICHARD, Russia’s Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV, the other top ten ranked skipper, also had a good day with five wins and no losses putting him level with the French team at the top of the standings.

The remaining round robin flights will be sailed today, with the semi-finals and finals on Saturday.

ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final Results

Open

Round Robin Standings

1. France, Mathieu RICHARD, 11-3
1. Russia, Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV, 11-3
3. South Africa, Ian AINSLIE, 10-4
4. Sweden, Martin ANGSELL, 9-5
5. USA, Brian ANGEL, 8-6
6. New Zealand, Simon DICKEY, 6-8
7. Argentina, Juan GRIMALDI, 5-8
8. India, Mahesh RAMCHANDRAN, 3-11
8. Portugal, Helder BASILIO, 3-11
8. Ireland, George KINGSTON, 3-11

Women's

Round Robin Standings

1. Australia, Nicky SOUTER, 9-3
1. France, Claire LEROY, 9-3
3. Bermuda, Paula LEWIN, 8-4
3. Denmark, Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN, 8-4
5. Netherlands, Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN, 6-5
6. Ireland, Mary O'LOUGHLIN, 4-8
6. Great Britain, Lucy MACGREGOR, 4-8
8. New Zealand, Jess SMYTH, 3-9
9. Brazil, Rossana RAMOS, 1-11

For all the news on the Grand Final CLICK HERE.

The ISAF Nations Cup, which was first introduced to the world in 1991, is based on a series of Regional Finals with the top crews meeting at the Grand Final. The aim of the event is to broaden the availability of match racing and provide international match racing competition for national authorities and sailors at a reasonable cost, whilst acting as an incentive for national match racing programmes.

For a complete list of all the news from the ISAF Nations Cup 2006 CLICK HERE.