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9 August 2005, 03:46 pm

ALBALAT Makes Perfect Start

Laser 4.7 World Championship 2005

Barrington, Rhode Island, USA

Joaquin BLANCO ALBALAT (ESP) opened the first day of racing at the Laser 4.7 World Championship at Rhode Island, USA, with a perfect 1,1 score in ideal racing conditions.

The total fleet of 92 sailors from 16 countries are battling at the Worlds hosted by Barrington Yacht Club. They are split into two rounds for an eight race qualifying series before progressing to a four race finals.

In twelve knots of onshore sea breeze ALBALAT led his fleet at the first mark and extended his lead to a comfortable 100 metres ahead of Peru's Branko MARKOVINOVIC by the finish. The wind increased slightly for the second race and ALBALAT had to work harder for his win in what was the most exciting race of the day. At the first mark Matilde FABBRI (ITA) rounded first ahead of Philip WENDER (BRA), Guney KAPTAN (TUR) and Andrew Simms (GBR) with ALBALAT back in seventh. However the Spaniard had the best speed downwind and there were a number of places change over the next two legs with only six boat lengths separating the top five. At the second windward mark KAPTAN had the lead from SIMS, ALBALAT and FABBRI.

ALBALAT squeezed past KAPTAN at the end of the last downwind with SIMS and Guilherme LIMA (BRA) right behind. SIMMS went to leeward of KAPTAN on the reach and got through to second. On the short windward leg to the finish there was frantic covering but no further place changes.

Top Ten After Two Races

Pos	Nation	Helm	R1	R2	Pts
1	ESP	Joaquin BLANCO ALBALAT	1	1	2
2	GBR	Tom HAYES	1	4	5
3	GBR	Adam SIMS	3	2	5
4	TUR	Guney Can KAPTAN	4	3	7
5	ITA	Edoardo BARTOLINI	2	8	10
6	SLO	Nik PLETIKOS	5	5	10
7	SLO	Dany STANISIC	10	1	11
8	USA	Stephanie ROBLE	2	9	11
9	BRA	Guilherme BARBOSA LIMA	7	4	11
10	BRA	Philip Alexander WENDER	5	6	11