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5:58 AM Mon 20 Apr 2009 GMT
World number one Gasper Vincec (SLO) underlined his ranking position today with two great races at the Semaine Olympique Fran?aise in Hyeres, placing second in the first race and then going one better to win the second race in light and unstable winds as the fourth event in the ISAF Sailing World Cup got underway.
However, the Slovenian is on equal points with Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) who won the first race and followed that up with a second place. Third place after two race belongs to Ed Wrght (GBR) the current overall leader of the ISAF Sailing World Cup for Finns after a win at the Rolex Miami OCR and a second place at the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sof?a MAPFRE.
With a delayed start to racing to wait for the sea breeze to settle, the light and shifty wind gradually moved round from the south-east to the west and produced an interesting results sheet at the end of the day. The light conditions brought a number of unfamiliar faces to the front. Michael Maier (CZE) a veteran of four Olympic, produced a relatively consistent 7th and 3rd to lie in fourth overall, while 2007 European Champion Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) placed 4th and 8th to sit in fifth position.
The top ten after two races is rounded out by Alexandros Dragoutsis (GRE), Marin Misura (CRO), Thomas Le Breton (FRA), Pieter Jan Postma (NED) and Rafal Szukiel (POL). Meanwhile, the winner in Palma last week Giles Scott (GBR) placed sxith in the first race but then had the misfortune of two yellow flags in race two and had to retire.
With the forecast for more of the same conditions on Monday, sailors are hoping for more breeze later in the week to stretch their legs.
by Robert Deaves
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