Finn Focus at Palma - Gaspic takes narrow lead into medal race

10:03 PM Thu 1 Apr 2010 GMT

'Finns - Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre' Nico Martinez &copy

Changeable and shifting winds plagued the fleets on the final qualification day at the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre with the Finns only managing two more races, with wins going to Ed Wright (GBR) and Alexey Selivanov (RUS).

Race six was started in around 12 knots, though this soon died away to nearer six knots. Ed Wright (GBR) scored his second successive race win to dramatically improve his podium chances. He was followed over the line by Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) and Giles Scott (GBR).

Regatta leader Rafa Trujillo (ESP) struggled across the finish line in 12th place to lose his overall lead for the first time. And things only got worse for him in race seven. He finished the day in fourth place overall. He said, 'Today was a very tough day, I did not make good decisions on the second beats and this cost me a lot. The 24th in race seven hurts especially as my rivals were behind me and I could not take advantage of it.'

Race seven followed soon after though the wind was starting to fade away. After a very shifty race, with two major shifts upsetting the fleet, Alexey Selivanov (RUS) lead Jan Kurfeld (GER) and Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) across the finish line. However Kurfeld was black flagged, leaving a Russian 1, 2 and a surprised Paoletti Michele (ITA) in third place.

After that the wind died away and started to shift in all sorts of directions so the fleet was sent in at 15.00.

Despite finishing 18th and 38th respectively, Kljakovic Gaspic and Wright still maintained the top two slots going into the medal race. A 4-21 for second placed Jonathan Lobert (FRA) dropped him to third overall. He said, 'In the first race I started close to the pin but the wind was shifting to the right so I was around 20th at the first top mark. Then I had a wonderful downwind to come back to the third place at the downwind mark. For the rest of the race the wind dropped to 6 knots and I just manage to keep my position and finished fourth.'

'In the second race the wind was very light and looked like it would shift left because of the sea breeze, so I had a good start on the pin but the wind was shifting to much and increasing from the right. I rounded the mark very far behind, so on the second beat I choose to go hard right with Giles Scott and we made a nice comeback.' Lobert finished 21st to Scott's 17th, though both discarded these results.

He concluded, 'I am very happy about my sailing this week. It's my best result ever in the Finn class so far. So for tomorrow I have only one plan - have fun and sail fast!'

Further down the fleet, Zach Railey (USA) just managed to make the medal race after struggling all week. He said, 'I snuck in by a few points, so am pretty pleased considering how I started the regatta. The conditions today were much the same. Very difficult and hard to know what the wind was going to do. You just had to fight all the time to get as many boats as possible.

'In the second race there were two very big shifts to the right on both upwind legs. I actually rounded the first weather mark in around 40th then was able to pick the correct side on the second beat and catch boats. There
were huge gains and losses. I think the biggest mover in the race must have passed or lost 35 boats. It was very hard to know what the wind was going to do.'

Four boats have a chance at winning the regatta in Friday's medal race, so knowing - or guessing right - what the wind is going to do is going to be more important than ever.

Wright summed up, 'Today was a really tough day, but tomorrow will be even more so with four of us fighting it out for the medals.'

So the line-up for the medal race is:

Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) - 2009 European Champion. Started the regatta sick and moved into the overall lead only after the final qualification races. Has to be the one of the absolute favourites to take the event based on past performance.

Edward Wright (GBR) - 2006 European Champion, overall winner of the 2008-9 ISAF Sailing World Cup, and the runner-up here last year. Only sailor to win two races here this week and has a knack for winning medal races.

Jonathan Lobert (FRA) - Young and rapidly improving, Lobert won races in Miami and here in Palma, and is only 5 points off the lead, so he is also in with a very good chance.

Rafa Trujillo (ESP) - 2004 Olympic Silver medalist and 2007 World Champion. Lead this regatta until Thursday until he picked up a couple of high scores. Only seven points off the lead so again in a good position to strike for a medal.

Thomas Le Breton (FRA) - Lobert's training partner and made his claim for a medal today with a 6-16 (which was the fourth best combined score of the day). Hasn't made a name for himself yet but is clearly improving and has a chance of a medal of any colour.

Giles Scott (GBR) - 2008 Junior World Champion and winner here last year. Has had an up and down week and can mathematically win the silver or bronze here. Last year he had problems with consistency which he seemed to have
cracked at the Rolex Miami OCR, but has had four results outside the top 10 this week.

Daniel Birgmark (SWE) - Fourth in the 2008 Olympics and a steady consistent sailor. Can only make the bronze medal here. Only three top 10 positions this week highlights the high scoring nature of this year's regatta.

Andrew Mills (GBR) - Third in Palma last year. After a cracking day on Wednesday when he jumped to third, had a high scoring Thursday to drop to eighth and has now lost his chances of a medal.

Gasper Vincec (SLO) - Coming back to the Finn after some time off. Recently placed third in Miami but then more time off for the birth of his daughter. Started well this year with a race win, and then dropped out of the top 10 mid regatta before recovering well to post a 9-5 (the best score of the day) to just make the medal race.

Zach Railey (USA) - 2008 Olympic Silver medalist and 2009 World Championship runner up. Has made hard work of this week and has been climbing from 37th place on day one. Finally made the cut for the medal race on the final race
today, but no chance of a medal now.

He's not in the medal race but spare a thought for Mark Andrews (GBR). After sailing an excellent regatta he has missed the medal race by one place yet again - a habit that he needs to break. If we had a pound for every 11th
place he fills, we'd all be rich.

The medal race for the Finns is scheduled for 11.00 local time. It should be some contest.

Event website: www.trofeoprincesasofia.org
Class website: www.finnclass.org