The location is fantastic. The Silver Cup racing area is delimited by the city front and the Marina Boulevard, Alcatraz facing the Golden Gate Bridge and the “sunny” side in the distance with Angel Island and Tiburron! The wind fills in regularly by noon from the ocean when the land heats up, and is announced by a low, gray mass of fog hiding the bridge! The temperature drops and the sailors with all their warm gear on are ready for another race!

The strong currents and patchy winds have made the sailors think hard to find the fastest route on this scenic course. With the current increasing, the race committee set a starboard course which was a “first” for most sailors and sometimes confusing. The smartest, fastest and sometimes luckiest sailors collected their dues. Today Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) was first across the finish line on race 5, taking his second victory of the event. “ The current is very confusing! I had trouble upwind but gained places on each run. I went further to the left behind the Alcatraz Island and it paid off!” Americans Caleb Paine and Luke Lawrence were second and third across the line.

The wind increased for the second race but was more irregular across the course with patches of pressure. Jorge Zarif rounded the top mark ahead of the packed fleet. Josip Olujic, third behind Caleb Paine took the left side of the run to take the lead from Zarif by a minute. With a triangle course, the last upwind was followed by two reaches. Olujic lost some ground trying to find the wing mark but finished race 6 in first place.
The Croatian's victory was soon shortened by a protest lodged by Paine for tacking too close to him before rounding the top mark on the first beat. With Josip Olujic disqualified, the race goes to Luke Lawrence (USA) who increases his lead to 6 points over Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) on equal points with Caleb Paine (USA). The Australian Oliver Tweddell continues with regular scores to place 4th overall.

Two races are scheduled for Monday.


For more information, contact Corinne Mckenzie: corinne.mckenzie@orange.fr
Results, videos and more pictures on: www.finngoldcup.com