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The two Argentine teams were tied for the first two days of racing and both are sailing excellent regattas. The tie was finally broken yesterday with Maria Belén Tavella and Franco Greggi sailing a 1-3-1 in the final three races of the nine race qualification series. Discarding their two worst races (OCS and 3) Tavella/Greggi have taken a slender two point lead over Pepe Bettini and Fernando Gwozdz, who finished the day with a 2-2-3. Commenting on her race day, Belen Tavlla said "We finished first in the qualifying series and we're very happy - we hope tomorrow we will win. I think our course was easier than the other today." Franco Greggi added; "I'm very confident and we hope tomorrow will be a very good day."

The conditions were quite different than the previous days with lighter wind, a little rain and confused seas left over from the previous day. Changes in conditions kept everyone on their toes, including the race committee. The wind began at 16 knots but by the end of the day, both courses had drops to around 11 knots.

Bettini and Gwozdz raced on the north course for yesterday's racing and, crew Fernando Gwozdz commented that they "had a good day but unfortunately it wasn't enough to win the qualification series, but it's alright, because tomorrow a new regatta starts. We will go with everything we have."

Argentine teams currently hold the top six positions going into the finals with Australians Byron White and Ashlen Rooklyn being the top foreign team. The Aussies liked the lighter conditions and sailed to a 3-4-4 putting them in seventh overall. The French team of Gael Jaffrezic and Julien Bloyet , who are the top youth team, had a tough day sailing their two drop races but keeping a sixth and they stand in eight overall. The top female team of Ida Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen stand in nineteenth overall.

Racing continues on Thursday, January 6 with three days of the final series.

Photos provided by photographer Matias Capizzano, www.capizzano.com.Live reports and daily results: www.29erworlds.org

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