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Overall, conditions yesterday were similar to Monday, light wind in the morning replaced by 15-20 kts in the afternoon and HEAVY, HEAVY current. Despite the carnage on day one, many competitors continued to underestimate the currents of SF bay and the windward mark again proved a challenge to a surprisingly high percentage of the fleet. The key off the start was finding that right line that kept you in the wind but out of the current. In the early races, the first boats around the first mark held their positions and finished strongly. That said, a number of people were a bit gun-shy after yesterday and ended up so far above the mark you could've fit a freighter between (oh wait, that almost happened).

Well, not a freighter, but in addition to the morning's shipping traffic, a dredge boat did get caught off the start on the leeward mark forcing a few boats to cut behind her and lose significant time and distance. That said, special recognition goes out to the Race Committee who have dealt with heavy ship traffic and difficult weather conditions over the last few days.

Current world champions Nathan WILMOT and Malcolm PAGE (AUS) are in the lead after four races while two French teams Gildas PHILIPPE and Nicolas LEBERRE and Nicolas CHARBONNIER and Olivier BAUSSET sit second and third by only a matter of a few points (preliminary results: protest pending). The first bullet of the day went to 2003 World Champion Gabrio ZANDONA with Francesco DELLE TORRE (ITA) who are in ninth overall with the second going to 2004 Olympic silver medallists Nick ROGERS and Joe GLANFIELD (GBR). Only eight points separate the top nine sailors and there is everything left to play for in this highly competitive men's fleet.

Marcelien DE KONING and Lobke BERKHOUT of the Nertherlands continue their dominance of the women's division adding a first and fourth (discarded) to the two firsts they put up on day one. They now hold a five point lead ahead of Christina BASSADONE and Saskia CLARK (GBR). Just one point behind BASSADONE and CLARK is Olympic silver medallist in the Europe Lenka SMIDOVA (CZE) and Elizabeth KRATZIG who had a better day yesterday finishing second and third. Defending champions Therese TORGERSSON and Vendela ZACHRISSON (SWE) are up to fourth but are still not quite on form. The leaders of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings, Ingrid PETITJEAN and Nadege DOROUX (FRA) are now up to seventh overall after posting two sixth place finishes yesterday, a dramatic improvement from their first day.

Top Ten After Four Races - Women

Top Ten After Four Races - Men