Coutts Loses to Spithill But Ties in First

After a long but great day of sailing yesterday, three skippers are leading the ISAF Match Racing World Championship having all scored six victories with only one loss.

They are America’s Cup winner Russell COUTTS, Jesper RADICH, third in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings, and James SPITHILL, who reached notoriety as the youngest America’s Cup helmsman in 1999 with Young Australia.

Defending World Champion Karol JABLONSKI from Poland finished his first day of the event with 3 victories and 3 losses.

The outcome of the much awaited race between Russell COUTTS, winner of the America’s Cup, and defending World Champion Karol JABLONSKI, was quickly decided when the Polish skipper got a penalty at the start. Eight of the fourteen flights of Round Robin One have been completed today.

Racing started yesterday morning at 11 am, with a two-hour delay due to the lack of wind. The breeze from the South later increased, reaching 20 knots by 13.00 local time.

Lake Garda and its surrounding mountains provided a spectacular view to an exciting series of matches. Not only did the sailors have a long, tiring day on the water, but also the umpires, who inflicted a great number of penalties, felt the pressure of this pinnacle event.

Racing resumes today and as we go to press the northerly breeze on Lake Garda is blowing steadily.

Two flights have already been completed and it is expected to race one more before the northerly drops to be replaced later by the infamous southerly thermal wind.

Full flight results are available on the event website at the address below.

RESULTS AT THE END OF DAY ONE