Ainslie (GBR) Builds a Lead

Great Britain’s Olympic Laser Gold Medallist Ben Ainslie had an outstanding day yesterday to move into a 19 point lead after four races at the Finn Gold Cup taking place in Athens, Greece.

Two races were sailed yesterday in 12 – 14 knots of steady breeze. Day One’s leader Emilios Papathanasiou (GRE) did not fare well only managing a 14 and a DNF. He had two very bad starts and had to complete a 720 degree penalty turn on one of them.

By contrast Ainslie made things look easy, getting good starts and staying near the front in the first race, and winning the second. His coach David Howlett commented that “he did everything right”. No mean feat in a fleet of 93 of the best Finn sailors in the world.

There was a surprise winner for Race One, Rafael Trujizo Villar (ESP) came home first, followed by Bruno Prada (BRA), and Guillaume Florent (FRA).

In Race Two it was Ainslie (GBR) first, followed by Michael Fellman (GER) and Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL).

Ainslie will be determined to show that his recent win at the Finn European Championship was no flash in the pan, however there is a possible five more races left and plenty of sailors hungry for the title of Finn Gold Cup Champion in 2002.

Results