FIVE IN RACE FOR FINN MEDALS

by Ian Grant on 28 Sep 2000 Percy who has led the championship from the first day when he recorded a 2-1 presently holds a 5 point lead over the veteran Swedish helmsman Fredirk Loof with the defending Olympic champion Mateusz Kuszniererwicz another 4 points away third.

This trio are only one point clear of the improving Xavier Rohart (France) and Luca Devoti (Italy) who jointly share fourth place.

All five skippers have been impressive in separate races with the defending Gold Medallist Mateusz Kusznierewicz winning the first heat, Percy the second and Loof the third while Devoti 4-2 and Rohart 1-9 outscored all three leaders in the two races decided in tricky winds on Tuesday.

Both the French and Italian helmsmen who are ranked 6th and 22nd in the World have revelled in the demanding tactical racing test and are in a very strong position to improve their International 'pecking order'.

However the equally determined 24 year old 95 kg Percy is well prepared for the challenge from his rivals and another day of uncertain winds.

There was post dawn rain again in Sydney this morning and the heavy cloud cover will need to lift or the race officials and competitors will face another long wait for a suitable fair sailing wind to settle.

Meanwhile the popular English helmsman Iain Percy retains control of the pointstable with his 2-1-9-2-5-8 score over Fredik Loof (SWE) 17-5-1-6-7-4 and Olympic title holder Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) 1-4-11-8-15-3.