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8:57 PM Thu 23 Apr 2009 GMT
The medal race for Finns at the Semaine Olympique Fran?aise in Hyeres will be a showdown between two sailors who have dominated the headlines all week. Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) goes into the deciding race with an 11 point margin over world ranked number one, Gasper Vincec (SLO). A sixth place or better will seal Kljakovic Gaspic's first ever Grade 1 regatta win.
Meanwhile Vincec has a 12 point margin over Ed Wright (GBR) and a 14 point margin over Marin Misura (CRO) and these two are now his only threats. For the bronze medal place, Giles Scott (GBR) and Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) are also in with a chance.
Vincec won his second race of the week in the first race today with fellow countryman Tine Moze (SLO) second and Ed Wright (GBR) in third. Regatta leader Kljakovic Gaspic could only manage an eighth, which he discarded. This brought Wright up to third overall.
The second race of the day and the final opening series race was won by Deniss Karpak (EST) who took the lead on the first downwind. Just two metres behind him was the ever consistent Kljakovic Gaspic, the only sailor here to score top ten positions in every race. Third place in race race went to Misura, while Wright ended the day with the best results and a fourth place finish.
Karpak said, 'It has been five extremely difficult days. Every upwind is a lottery; the second one today maybe not, but the first for sure. The wind was 5-15 knots with holes with no wind at all and 30 degree shifts. I don't like these tricky conditions. I had always lost places in my Laser in these conditions, but now I feel much better.' He said the key today was 'Risk management and relaxation. I was close to being out of the top 10, but I put my emotions out of my head and concentrated only on boat handling.'
Kljakovic Gaspic said, 'Today I just wanted to stay close to Gasper and keep him out of top ten. In first race I had a really good position but made a bad choice on first downwind and on the gate rounding.' In the second race Vincec was a long way back and decided to go for an early shower, with little chance to get back in the top 10. And for tomorrow, 'I am relaxed. I have nothing to lose. I just have to sail in the medal race like I have done all this week.'
One of the sailors to scrape into the top ten is Tapio Nirkko (FIN). Fourth overall in Palma he has struggled this week. 'Today I wanted to sail without any big risks and there I succeeded better than the other guys around the top 10. I'm looking forward to having a bit more breeze tomorrow and just gonna enjoy the medal race full on!'
The medal race line up looks likes this:
Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) - runner up in Europeans in 2007 and 2008. Seems to go best in light winds and has found new speed this week.
Gasper Vincec (SLO) - Also goes well in the light, and the only sailor this week to get close to Kljakovic Gaspic's consistency. Should be safe in silver bar a major upset.
Edward Wright (GBR) - Current leader of the ISAF Sailing World Cup and great at winning medal races. Good chance of a medal, especially if the breeze is up but still has it all to do to win a medal.
Marin Misura (CRO) - Good all round sailor with a lot of experience, but not yet proved himself in the medal race scenario. Needs to beat Wright by one place to take a medal and be within three places of Giles Scott.
Giles Scott (GBR) - Had a very up and down week (who hasn't) but will struggle to medal here. Needs to beat Wright by four places and Misura by three.
Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) - sailing his best regatta since the 2007 Europeans, which he won. Doesn't go so well in the breeze, but an outside chance of a medal if it all goes wrong for the three above him.
Michael Maier (CZE) - By far, the most experienced sailor here, with four Olympics under his belt. Another sailor who has done far better than his ranking in the variable conditions.
Deniss Karpak (EST) - Only joined the class late last year after sailing the 2008 Olympics in the Laser. This is only his second regatta in the Finn and he is clearly showing great potential for the future.
Tapio Nirkko (FIN) - After a fourth place in Palma, has been a bit inconsistent this week, but prefers more breeze.
Peer Moberg (NOR) - Making the top ten with only three top ten positions this week, underlines the nature of the racing the sailors have endured in Hyeres.
by Robert Deaves
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