PUMA Moth Worlds Day 3 - Changes at the top

6:12 PM Wed 10 Mar 2010 GMT

'2010 PUMA Moth Worlds Day 3 start of Race 5.' Thierry Martinez

PUMA International Moth World Championship - Day 3 Andrew 'Amac' McDougall's nine point lead evaporated today in the difficult patchy Dubai breeze.

The first race of the day, race five of the prestigious event, was a carbon copy of the final race yesterday, with US Laser sailor Brad Funk scoring a bullet. European Moth Champ Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) scored a second on the same race, and at the end of the day Psarofaghis moved into third place. 'Today I lost a few positions I shouldn't have, but overall I was going pretty fast in some difficult conditions,' the Swiss racer said. Simon Payne captured third in the race.

Seattle, USA skiff sailor Dalton Bergan pulled off the move of the regatta at the exciting start of race six, when he port-tacked the entire fleet - a sailor's dream at a World Championship. The manuver payed off and guaranteed victory for Bergan. Australian Scott Babbage grabbed second place, with Funk again scoring big with a third. Payne continued his strong performance with a fourth and 2009 World Champ Bora Gulari rounded out the top five.

The last race of the day started in a lighter and dying breeze, with Psarofaghis edging out Brad Funk for the race win after Funk broke his boom vang. Funk also lost a sail control called a camber inducer, greatly reducing the power in his rig.

The gear failure cost Brad one point, leaving his just two points from race leader Payne, whose consistency has proved his biggest advantage. 'I was good but not great today, not quite as fast as yesterday just before I broke my mast, but then the conditions weren't quite the same so you have to take that into account,' explained Payne.

Tomorrow is a lay day for the fleet.

2010 PUMA Moth Worlds Day 3 Race 7. BRAD FUNK (USA 3451) - Thierry Martinez

2010 PUMA Moth Worlds, Day 3 Race 5.
SIMON PAYNE (GBR 5) - Thierry Martinez

2010 PUMA Moth Worlds Day 3 Race 5. SIMON PAYNE (GBR 5) and BORA GULARI (USA 1) at top mark - Thierry Martinez

Day 3 Race 7. ANDREW MCDOUGALL (AUS 3380) - 2010 Moth Worlds - ThMartinez _- Sea & Co - Copyright

Day 3 Race 5. ANDREW MCDOUGALL (AUS 3380) - 2010 Moth Worlds - ThMartinez _- Sea & Co - Copyright

Day 3 Race 5. ARNAUD PSAROFAGHIS (SUI 3 - 2010 Moth Worlds - ThMartinez _- Sea & Co - Copyright

Day 3 start of Race 5. DALTON BERGAN (USA 4) and ARNAUD PSAROFAGHIS (SUI 3) - 2010 Moth Worlds - ThMartinez _- Sea & Co - Copyright

PUMA became involved with the Moth Class during the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, having PUMA branded Moths sailed in port during each of the eleven stopovers around the world. During the adventure around the world, PUMA's Moths were sailed by ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year Anna Tunicliffe, US Laser sailor Brad Funk, former Moth World Champion Rohan Veal and Swiss Moth sailor Arnaud Psarofaghis. Both the Moth Class and PUMA bring a new enthusiasm to sailing, attracting top sailors and non-sailing spectators.

For more information about the PUMA Moth World Championships and PUMA Sailing collections, please visit www.pumaoceanracing.com .

by Brigid Murphy