The fight for the european champion title is still open between Antoine Albeau (FRA, Starboard) and Bjorn Dunkerbeck (SUI, Proof, North Sails). They are tied in points, but Antoine leads due to the better top speed of the competition. In the womens fleet Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA, Loft Sails) is already through, with five bullets in five races.

One more round was completed today in relatively light winds, leaving the decision about the title open to the final two days of the competition.

The skippersmeeting was again set to an early 9:00 schedule, but the wind was not there. Thus the riders were directly put on standby with the AP flag up, and around noon the wind was sufficient to start the next silver fleet race. The speeds were quite impressive with speeds around 38 knots, and the fight for the top five places to go up to the gold fleet race was tough.

The womens fleet was one more time dominated by Valerie Ghibaudo, clearly ahead of Anja Kruse (GER, F2, North) and Elke Schill (GER, F2, North).

As the wind dropped a little bit in the second extension of that heat, the gold fleet start was postponed.

At 13:40 hours the wind came up again and the gold fleet sent out to its fifth round, and the speeds were extremly good for the given conditions, proved by topspeeds of over 40 knots by Bjorn Dunkerbeck. Also Antoine Albeau in second and Cyril Moussilmani (FRA, Fanatic, North) came close to 40 knots, then Chris Lockwood (AUS, Carbon Art, KA Sails) and Finian Maynard (IRL).

Bjorn Dunkerbeck, winning the last two rounds and Antoine Albeau, who dominated the beginning of the event are tied in points now, and due to the better top speed Antoine is still in the lead. Cyril Moussilmani save in third, and places 4 and 5 hardly fought about between Finian Maynard and Chris Lockwood.

The womens competition is already decided, with Valerie Ghibaudo at a perfect score, Anja Kruse save in second and Elke Schill in third.

With a bad forecast for tomorrow and a slight chance for wind on the final day of the competition, it all looks like the decision will be taken in the last race of the last day.

Full results can be found at www.speedworldcup.comand the media gallery of the event at www.audio-video-stream.de/emkarpathos/gallery/

by Markus Schwendtner

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