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Conditions were perfect here today for racing. The teams were on the water at 09:00 this morning. Heats 32-81 were completed by 15:45 this afternoon, with the wind conditions being ideal it was possible to have non-stop racing. It was then decided to continue with the Round Robin format, so that all the teams would race all the other teams by the completion.

Then the top eight teams will go forward to the quarter finals, winners of those heats to semi finals and of those through to the finals on Saturday.

The Netherlands have been enjoying a successful day today, with three wins from four heats, after which I spoke to their team captain Frans Hin, ranked eight by the end of the day.

You've had a good day today with wins over CZE 1, IND and GBR 1, only losing to USA2?
Yeah we have had a good day today so far. Much better. I think we are in the top five now in our league. We had a bad start to the regatta, but it's coming good now.

Do you prefer the lighter or the stronger winds?
We have been practicing on a lake near Amsterdam in the Netherlands in the evenings in pretty light winds, but we don't really mind. Not too strong though!

How did you select this team?
We are the only team in the Netherlands so far, so no selection as such, but I think it will grow through the sailing clubs when people see how fun it is. This team is very similar to the one we had in Ireland (1999), and we have been practicing against each other and also did a few competitions in England to prepare. After Ireland we enjoyed it so much that we bought three 420 boats to practice in and train for this event.

What do you like about Team Racing?
It's just really good. Really exciting. It can be done everywhere at any venue. It's less money than, say, match racing. I think it should take off now as a discipline. The only disadvantage is you can't be too heavy in these boats.

Racing continues with heats 82 up to 171. Then every team will have sailed every other team. Racing was completed up to heat 99 this evening. Then the competitors were called off the water because the wind was too light. We await heat 160 NZL V USA 2 with baited breath.

There was drama in heat 91, when the then undefeated NZL were against CZE1. CZE1 won the heat, but NZL are seeking redress for damage to their rudder incurred in a collision.

SVK beat USA1 in heat 95, to cheers from the supporters on the beach who were obviously supporting the underdogs!

Provisional Results:
(Country, wins-losses, points)

1. USA2, 12-0, 83 pts
2. NZL, 10-1, 89 pts
3. GBR1, 9-2, 84 pts
4. AUS2, 9-3, 107 pts
5. USA1, 8-2, 83 pts
6. IRL1, 8-2, 84 pts
7. GBR2, 6-3, 73 pts
8. NED, 6-3, 88 pts
9. AUS1, 6-4, 105 pts
10. CZE1, 5-5, 103 pts
11. ESP, 4-6, 115 pts
12. CZE2, 4-7, 129 pts
13. IRL2, 3-5, 81 pts
14. IND, 3-8, 139 pts
15. SVK, 2-9, 127 pts
16. POL, 2-10, 153 pts
17. JPN1, 1-8, 120 pts
18. JPN2, 0-9, 131 pts
19. YUG, 0-11, 164 pts


For full heat by heat results as they happen go to the event website.