The Official
Website of the
International
Sailing Federation

Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON (GBR) continued to find a consistency unmatched in the rest of the fleet, with another two top-five finishes (fourth and fifth) helping them move nine points clear in the overall standings. Germany's ike SCHUEMANN, Julia BLECK and Ute HOEPFNER moved up to second place after 3,9 scores, whilst the Australian team of Krystal WEIR, Karyn GOJNICH and Angela FARRELL drop to third after two tenth place finishes.

The big battle is seen further down the fleet where eight nations are fighting for the four Olympic places that are still up for grabs.

For those not familiar with the qualification system, here is a brief explanation: 15 Yngling teams will sail at the 2008 Olympic Games. Ten of the nations were decided at last year's ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal. China has a host nation berth and the four places left will be decided here at the Worlds in Miami. Which specific team a nation will finally send to the Games is up to the nation itself and hard battles are also fought among teams from the same country.

The top-ranked team among the not yet qualified nations is France's Anne-claire LE BERRE, Marion DEPLANQUE and Alice PONSAR, currently fourth in the regatta. The ranking order after race 6 for the other seven nations fighting for an Olympic berth is: Norway, Greece, Italy, Canada, Denmark and Japan. With four races to go before the Medal Race much is at stake.

The Italian team of Chiara CALLIGARIS, Francesca SCOGNAMILLO and Giulia PIGNOLO strengthened their position after leading the fleet around all the marks to win race 5.

The American team of Sally BARKOW, Carrie HOWE and Debbie CAPOZZI, one of the dominant teams in the Yngling arena for the last few years, has during this Championship often been found far down the fleet on the first beat without time and opportunity to come back. After a win in today's last race the team is now sixth in the regatta and very much back in the fight for medals.

Results - click here
Yngling World Championship - www.ussailing.org/olympics/ynglingworlds/index.asp