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23 October 2004, 12:50 pm

Tension And Frustration

PWA World Tour

It has been another amazing October day here in France, but with high temperatures and clear blue skies, you could easily have believed it was still summer.

In contrast to the wishes of the waiting fleet, the spectacular weather brought with it just a gentle breeze and for the second day running, the competition moved back into a holding pattern whilst the fleet waited for the wind to comply.

With world titles to be one and lost the pressure has only increased on the top ranked athletes over the last couple of days. Steve Allen (Fanatic, Neil Pryde) is within just 6 points of a world title, but standing in his way is the mighty Frenchman Antoine Albeau (AHD, Neil Pryde) currently leading the event and therefore the overall world tour standings. Allen is desperate for more wind to give him one last chance to topple Albeau in his home country, but it will be no mean feat for him to surpass Albeau even with ideal conditions.

Competition among the women is even tighter with Allison Shreeve (F2) just clinging on to World Title dreams in third place currently here in Almanarre. Should the event standings remain constant, then Shreeve will take the 2004 Title ahead of UK's Lucy Horwood (Fanatic, North Sails) by a tiebreak. Dorota Staszewska (Starboard, Gaastra) currently leads the event but her hopes of another PWA World Title rely on Horwood and Shreeve falling further in the rankings - something that is at best unlikely.

Whatever happens tomorrow, it will be a nail biting finish to the 2004 PWA Tour, which finally draws to a close after 7 months on the road. Find out first what happens on where we will bring you updates throughout the day.

Vivienne Masters (As Amended By ISAF News Editor)

Isaf TV

Female ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) won the Women's 470 Medal Race and with it gold as they made it three consecutive 200-point regatta wins in a row.
France's Camille Lecointre and Hélène Defrance had held the lead in the Women's 470 for the large part of the week but came undone on the final day as a sixth knocked them off gold medal position. They were made to settle for silver whilst bronze went to Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR).

Billy Besson and Marie Riou went into the Nacra 17 Medal Race with an unassailable 22 point lead and the gold medal sewn up. ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami gold medallists Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri (ITA) added a World Cup silver to their collection having finished in fifth. Bronze went to Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis (AUS).

Gold fleet racing got underway in six Olympic events at ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca. We caught up with three of the leaders and got race highlights from all of the day's proceedings. View results from Mallorca on the ISAF Sailing World Cup website here http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php

The 2011 World Champion Giles Scott (GBR) made a successful come from behind victory on Saturday to take home the gold medal. Scott finished nine seconds behind Luke Lawrence (USA) for second place. Overnight leader Oliver Tweddell (AUS) slipped up with an eighth place finish Saturday after leading by nine points.