Day 5

LUNCHTIME LAUNCH FOR RADIAL FLEET

High pressure over the British Isles posed a problem for the Laser Radial Europeans today (Friday) as a virtual calm settled on Belfast Lough this morning. This meant a long wait at Ballyholme Yacht Club for the two hundred competitors, who only managed to get afloat at lunchtime when a 5-knot northerly breeze set in. The event has been dogged all week by unusually calm weather.

With the competition in its final stages, and the fleet split into Gold, Silver and Bronze divisions, the Race Committee was anxious to take advantage of the light airs, but managed to complete only one race for the whole fleet. An attempt at a second race for the Gold starters had to be abandoned when the wind died.

So going into the final day after 8 races, Benoit Raphalen of France has jumped ahead of Steve Cockerill (GBR) with a first place. He has 23 points. Raphalen had occupied second slot for most of the race behind John Booth (GBR) but passed him on the final reach and stayed ahead to take the first gun. " I prefer light weather" says Raphalan, "and I'm just 70kg so that helps in these conditions". Booth's second brings him up from 27th to 12th.

Cockerill, the overnight leader, managed only 12th and now lies in second place on 31. In third slot is Jon Emmett (GBR), who scored a 7th in this race, and an excellent best result of third for Ireland's George Kingston puts him fourth ahead of Karol Rosner of Poland and currently top Youth.

In the Silver fleet Joao Vidinha of Portugal finished fourth and leads the fleet with Spain's Alberto Padilla second. Alexander Dolan (IRL) won the race and now lies third.

The Bronze fleet has in its lead spot the host club's Michael Gunning and in second another Irish sailor, Tristan McMillan from Strangford Lough Yacht Club. Third is Tomas Monteiro of Portugal.

Katarzyna Szotynska (Poland) at 14th is top woman at present.

In an effort to sail two races tomorrow (Saturday), the first start will start at the earlier time of 10 am.

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