Day 4

TROUBLE AT THE TOP FOR CLARKE

Big upset of the day at the Laser Radial Europeans was the exit from the competition of 18-year-old GBR sailor, Keir Clarke, who fell foul of Rule 42 (illegal propulsion).

Having started today's racing in third slot, Clarke infringed the rule three times. His demise meant a hike up the score board for those below.

The force 3 - 4 southerly, although gusty, was the best wind of the event so far, resulting in some exciting sailing on the trapezoidal course just off Bangor on Belfast Lough.

With one discard now applied, Stephen Cockerill (GBR) leads on 20 points, having scored a 5,1 and 3. His first came after a tussle with Wojciech Paluszkiewicz (Poland) and Jon Emmett (GBR). This puts him ahead of the yesterday's leader, Benoit Raphalen (France) who had his worst race to date, coming in at 14th in Race 7, having won race 5. In third place is Mehmet Sevinc from Turkey on 25 points. Two seconds and a fifth put him just 2 points behind Raphalen, and 5 ahead of Jon Emmett, (GBR). Two wins hitched another French sailor, Jean Baptiste Bernaz, up from 19th to 5th. The seventeen-year-old holds the top youth slot at present.

Best Irish position is currently held by George Kingston at 8th. He counted 6,9 and 17 today.

Top female is the last year's women's Radial world champion, Katarzyna Szotynska from Poland, who also seems to do better in a breeze. She lies 22nd while next female in line is the Scottish sailor, Charlotte Dobson (GBR) at 34th.

Principal Race Officer Alan Crosbie is pleased with how the fleet is handling the racing. Out of 21 starts there have been only two general recalls.

The fleet has now been split into Gold, Silver and Bronze divisions and is scheduled to have three races tomorrow (Friday).

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