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10 August 2005, 04:01 pm

Third Straight Win For AINSLIE

Finn European Championship 2005

Kalmar, Sweden

Ben AINSLIE (GBR) has continued on his undefeated run by taking the third race of the ISAF Grade C1 Finn European Championship in Kalmar, Sweden. Today's racing was not easy for the sailors or for the race committee who had to deal with shifting winds, poor visibility and heavy showers. It was not enough to stop the World and Olympic Champion though, who stretched his lead at the top to double figures.

The race Committee kept busy resetting the course several times. Beginning at 24 knots, the wind took a 65 degrees change after the top mark upsetting the placings. The race committee changed the top mark accordingly but the wind had rotated another 25 degrees before the second upwind and dropped to four knots by the end of the regatta.

Finishing in second position Dan SLATER (NZL) experienced some up and down in this tricky race, 'I was in the lead with Rafa [TRUJILLO (ESP)] 50 meters before the top mark, then the wind moved and we saw Ben and Emilios [PAPATHANASIOU (GRE)] passing us from the right. I ended up in 30th position and was quite upset. Then on the second beat the wind shifted another 25 degrees and this time I was on the right side and got my second place back.' It was the same story with number one sailor in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN who came from 50th at the top mark to third across the finishing line, coming up gradually throughout the race. 'It was a race for the smart and lucky guys, very difficult and nerve racking,' explained the Dane.

With the chaos behind him AINSLIE has increased his lead to 13 points over Marin MISURA (CRO), who is now on equal points with Olympic silver medallist TRUJILLO.

Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPIC (CRO) was again the best junior. Scoring a twelfth in today's race he comfirmed his lead in the junior fleet in eleventh place overall. Tapio NIRKKO (FIN) collected a second yellow flag today on the start and had to retire from the race. Norbert WILANDT (POL) and Zach RAILEY (USA) are now the second and third juniors, only a few points apart at 24th and 25th place in the overall rankings.

Top Ten After Three Races

Pos	Nation	Helm	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1	GBR	Ben AINSLIE	1	1	1	3
2	CRO	Marin MISURA	7	3	6	16
3	ESP	Rafael TRUJILLO	5	6	5	16
4	DEN	Jonas HØGH-CHRISTENSEN	9	7	3	19
5	SLO	Gasper VINCEC	11	4	4	19
6	SWE	Daniel BIRGMARK	6	5	13	24
7	GRE	Emilios PAPATHANASIOU	22	2	9	33
8	NOR	Peer MOBERG	4	17	14	35
9	POL	Waclaw SZUKIEL	12	15	8	35
10	NZL	Dan SLATER	2	35	2	39

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