RS:X EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY FIVE

A CLIFF HANGER MEDAL RACE IS IN PROSPECT

A very late start and some big changes on the leader board!

Limassol, Cyprus- A Long day here in Cyprus! Competitors were held on the beach for seven hours until the evening breeze kicked in at 6-10 knots. A puff here; a puff there; the wind speed never really steadied but the direction was stable. Racing into the sunset, this was the last chance to make the top 10 and therefore qualify for the medal races tomorrow. The key was to maintain consistency.
 
The women were the first to start at 1800hrs. Alessandra Sensini (ITA) was on a charge, as predicted, finishing 3rd in race 8 and 1st in race 9 (2nd race of the day). This is a competitor that the current overall leader, Marina Alabau (ESP), cannot ignore. She must be dreading a repeat of the world title medal race last year when Alessandra snatched the championship from her on the finishing line. There are only 4 points in it now so she will have to have nerves of steel tomorrow!
 
Also on the way up, is Blanca Manchon (ESP) who is just 4 points behind Barbara Kendall (NZL) who, remember, has run out of discards so could not drop her 12th place in the 2nd race of the day. Look forward to a thrilling final day with a double points scoring medal race in prospect.  In theory, Blanca could take it but my money is on Alessandra to grab the 2007 European title.
 
While over in the men’s fleet, things were not going all Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL) way, in fact, quite the reverse. Finishing 13th in race 9 (first of the day) he had fought back from deep in the pack. It’ll be his discard. PIOTR MYSZKA (POL), on the other hand, sailed two blinders, taking two 3rds, and jumping to 2nd overall.  He now trails Pont by 14 points. Nicolas Le Gal (FRA) -5th and a 1st- is only 5 points off the pace in 3rd overall with Fabian Heidegger (ITA) in 4th two points behind. SHAHAR ZUBARI (ISR) claimed his place in the medal race, by scoring a 1st and 2nd and putting him in 8th overall.  Stand by for a great fight for the minor places on the podium.
 
The first medal race is scheduled for 1000hrs tomorrow with the rest of the fleets scheduled for 1200hrs.  
 
For the latest updates from the European Championships at www.rsxclass.com/europeans.html