Contender World Championships Race 5 underway

4:45 AM Sun 10 Jan 2010 GMT

'Matt Mulder (AUS2408) - Day 2 Contender Worlds' Contender Worlds 2010 Click Here to view large photo

Competitors and officials on day three of the 40th Contender World Championships certainly needed the sunscreen as they left the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron this afternoon under almost cloudless skies and in bright sunshine.

The breeze was an east north easter at 12 knots as the fleet headed out onto the Waterloo Bay course. The breeze is expected to go left and swing towards the north east but may oscillate throughout the afternoon.

Race 5 had a clear start, with Jono Neate (AUS2323) choosing to start on the Committee Boat end with Championship leader Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11) mid line.

However it was Australian Champion Matt Mulder (AUS2408) who had a blinder of a start further down the line and his silver sail was soon well advanced on the fleet. At the top mark he came in from the right and crossed the starboard tackers easily. At the top mark Mulder was 50 metres ahead of Neate, Germany's Christoph Homeier (GER551), Bonezzi and local sailor Steven Grimes (AUS2179).

Mulder held onto his lead around the wing mark but behind him the 'flying' Homeier had sailed through Australia's Jono Neate, while Bonezzi held course.

Coming down towards the bottom mark at the end of the second reach, Mulder had a slender lead over the fast closing Homeier. Neate was still holding third.

Then there was a gap back to a group of Contenders. Bonezzi got tangled and fell back to sixth, but was first to tack straight off the mark. Mulder followed his previous track from the first beat that had served him so well.

Mulder lost the lead coming up to the top mark as there was less pressure on the right. Homeier had sailed through him. Neate was third round. Down the run Bonezzi closed up into fourth place, ahead of Grimes.

The breeze was holding at 11-12 knots and the tide was flooding.

In the end it was Jono Neate who won a close battle with Mulder. Homeier was third, Bonezzi fourth and Grimes fifth.

On the water waiting for the start of Race 6, Jono Neate said 'One of my best races. I just managed to stay on the right side of the shifts.'

Luca Gusmeroli (ITA15) has a hole in the side of his boat and is attempting emergency duct tape repairs between races.

More to follow.

by Al Constable and Rob Kothe

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Contender World Championships Race 5 underway

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