49er World Championship - Spanish team dominates

by Jerelyn Biehl on 8 Jan 2010
Light air finesse was the key today with 3 races held in the 49er World Championship. 5-8 knots of wind was all that could muster to keep the first day of the finals for the Gold fleet alive.

Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez of Spain continued their run to the top by sailing a 1-2-10 in the 3 race day with a 19 point lead over John Pink and Rick Peacock who managed with mid-fleet finishes. The British team also holds 3rd and 4th place with Stevie Morrision and Ben Rhodes and Paul Brotherton and Mark Asquith following up. Brotherton & Asquith had a good day which moved them past the Sibello brothers of Italy who fell to 6th overall. Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis of France hold 5th.

Racing began an hour earlier than scheduled in anticipation of the wind shutting off. After the gold fleet finished, the silver fleet was sent out but no races were held and the silver will be the first start in the morning. The race committee went swimming.

Results at http://www.49erworlds.org