| Finn
Gold
Cup 2004 - Rio de Janeiro - Day 5
Thursday 19 February
Ben Ainslie moves one step closer to historic triple
The only race sailed today in the Finn Gold Cup in Rio
de Janeiro saw another downwind comeback for Ben Ainslie
(GBR), giving him a third place and moving him 18 points
clear at the top of the results, ahead of Mateusz Kusznierewicz
(POL), who is just one point ahead of David Burrows
(IRL). However the day belonged to Brazil, with Bruno
Prada winning the race ahead of veteran Finn sailor
Jorge Zarif.
Not only were the sailors tired today after yesterday's
fresh winds, but the wind must also have been tired.
As a result, the Finn fleet spent more time being towed
around today than actually racing. The fleet headed
out to Guanabara Bay for the scheduled 13.00 start.
After a postponement and a wait the fleet was towed
back into the harbour where a pleasant 7 to 8 knot breeze
was waiting. The press had also arrived with their cameras
and helicopters, so there was quite a commotion within
the harbour.
At the start most of the favourites favoured the pin
end, but Dean Barker (NZL) and Marin Misura (CRO) led
half of the fleet out of the committee boat end towards
the favoured right hand side. However most of the favourites
including the top three overnight went to the left of
the course before digging back in. But it was too late
by then as even the slowest of the boats heading right
crossed nearly all those who had gone left, leaving
several high ranking boats with too much to do to get
back in the chocolates.
Soren Holm (DEN) rounded the top mark in the lead followed
by Nenad Viali (CRO), Misura, Chris Cook (CAN), Barker
and Rafael Trujillo Villar (ESP). Ainslie rounded about
14th and headed to the right on the run, where there
looked to be more pressure. It worked a treat as Ainslie
rounded the downwind gate in second place just behind
Joao Signorini (BRA) and just ahead of Jorge Zarif (BRA),
Barker, Cook and Bruno Prada (BRA).
Ben takes up the story, "I had a good start and
went left a bit then back to the right. I was trying
to stay with Mateusz and David and they were behind
me so that was OK. I rounded the top mark about 14th
and then went right on the run and gained a lot to round
the gate in second. I actually got into the lead on
the second beat, but didn't quite go far enough right,
so lost out a bit." Ainslie rounded the top mark
in second place just behind Prada and just ahead of
Holm and Misura. He continued, "It was really close
at the finish, so I wasn't sure if I was 2nd or 3rd."
In fact, Prada maintained his lead on the final downwind
leg to the finish, with Zarif moving up to second to
make it a Brazilian 1, 2.
Meanwhile Mateusz was having his own problems. He commented,
"After rounding the first mark behind Ben I knew
I had to attack on the next beat. I'm not here to come
second or third (even though I might do that now!),
so I went to the right, probably too far, and ran out
of wind. It was very bad for me. I lost a lot of places,
but luckily managed to catch up some on the final downwind."
Kusznierewicz finished 14th to give Ainslie an 18 point
cushion going into the final day tomorrow.
Just as the race committee tried to start a second race,
the wind died and it was postponed until tomorrow. The
fleet then dropped their sails and started the tow back
to the club - five minutes later a stiff wind filled
in from the opposite direction. The wind has been fickle
and changeable all week, and with a change in the weather
overnight, the final day is unlikely to be any less
challenging for the 54 competitors..
Ainslie commented on his plans for the final day, "Tomorrow
will just be a matter of keeping an eye on Mateusz and
David, and trying to stay ahead of them." The Pole
also reflected on the final day, "Tomorrow obviously
I will still try and win but it's not going to be easy."
The battle to be the best home country sailor also heated
up today. Bruno Prada and Joao Signorini will soon be
battling it out for selection for Brazilian berth in
Athens. Here in Rio, they are neck and neck going into
the final day. A win for Prada and a 5th place for Signorini
sees them tied on 79 points each. There will be more
than one battle taking place tomorrow.
For those following the GBR coach's anti-towing regime
against literary Finn sailors, today's request for help
was simply met with a, "After what you wrote yesterday,
you've got no chance of a tow now!" Well. Fair
dues, but when I was at school the difference between
no chance and nothing was still nothing. Imagine the
pleasure this author will feel if passing said coach
if he happens to have broken down on the motorway, "You
can walk. You need the exercise!"
Tomorrow, two races are scheduled and the racing has
been moved forward one hour to 12.00 in the hope that
the wind will remember to get up one hour earlier. Tomorrow
also sees the opening stages of the Rio Carnival.
Copyright 2004
Robert Deaves - International Finn Association.
Reproduction in full or part welcomed with credit to
author.
Class website: www.finnclass.org
Event website: www.atividade.com.br/finn
Photos: www.cob.org.br (click on noticias then banko
de imagens and
follow instructions)
For
more info: www.icrj.com.br
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