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Giovanni MASPERO's (ITA) Joe Fly claimed victory in the second race, moving up to second place overall at 19 points, just one point behind Barking Mad. Massimo MEZZAROMA's (ITA) Nerone, with 25 points, sits third overall in the event organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, six points ahead of current World Champion Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA) with his Mascalzone Latino. Goombay Smash, owned by Doug DOUGLASS (USA) rounds out the top-five with 36 points.

After a general recall, the first race of the day (fourth of the series) was underway in a 16-18 knot westerly breeze. Barking Mad set the pace around the course and continuously built her lead to finish well ahead of Nerone and Transfusion, owned by Guido BELGIORNO-NETTIS (AUS). Joe Fly, with Francesco BRUNI (ITA) on tactics, was in second place around the first windward mark but dropped back to cross the finish line in fourth.

Two more general recalls took place before race five could be started and 11 boats earned a three-point penalty - translated to a ZFP on the scoreline - for infringing the one minute rule. The wind had dropped to 15 knots and this time it was Joe Fly's turn to lead the pack, followed at the first windward mark by Goombay Smash and Twins owned by Erik MARIS (FRA) and with Philippe MOURNIAC (FRA) calling tactics. Although the unsettled winds resulted in the course being repositioned for the second windward leg, Joe Fly maintained the lead position to finish first ahead of Twins and Alberto ROSSI's (ITA) Enfant Terrible, both of whom were among the boats which incurred the penalty.

As the Race Committee prepared to start race six the wind shifted dramatically, ultimately failing to stabilize, and the fleet returned to the docks shortly before 16:00.

"We had a good day," affirmed Terry HUTCHINSON (USA), US SAILING's 2008 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year who is the tactician on Barking Mad. "We started very conservatively, Jim and the guys did really good work in the last race, we started away from the favoured end to make sure we weren't OCS [over early]). There are still five races to go though. We have to just keep sailing well. We are working really well as a team though. Credit to Joe Fly for getting a very nice start, six or seven lengths windward of us, and going on to win the [fifth] race."

Rounding out the crew on Barking Mad is Morgan TRUBOVICH (USA), James BAXTER (USA) and Derby ANDERSON (USA), Zach HURST (NZL), Linda LINDQUIST-BISHOP (USA), Marty KULLMAN (USA), Matt MCDONOUGH (USA) and Curtis FLORENCE (USA).

Racing resumes on Friday with the first starting signal scheduled for 11:00. Major Filippo PETRUCCI, meteorologist on site for the event, predicts similar conditions to Thursday with a west northwesterly breeze of approximately 15 to 16 knots which could become unstable in the late afternoon.

Result - click here