Tough day but Prada hangs on

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Gavin Brady and his Prada crew of Steve Ericson, Sean Clarkson, Lorenzo Mazza and Alberton Barouier had a tough day in difficult conditions yesterday, but still kept their top-four hopes alive in the Steinlager Lion 7 Cup.

Brady was on the water for more than eight hours yesterday as he played catch-up with a couple of resailed races and then his first six races in round-robin two.

In the end, despite being handed a 50s drubbing by cup leader and defending champion Bertrand Pace, and a more surprising 49s loss to Dane Jesper Radich in his last two of nine races, Brady remained just one win out of the lead, sharing second with Cameron Appleton.

Pace lost only once yesterday in conditions much changed from the first two days in northerly breezes.

With the wind out of the south between 12-18 knots but varying up to 40 degrees, the Frenchman, now very much part of Team New Zealand, surprisingly lost - albeit by just 1s - to Swede Bjorn Hansen, who has had a regatta to forget with just three victories from 16 outings.

Pace's race with Brady was a drama-packed affair.

Both boats were recalled after being over at the start. Brady was ahead at the first cross, but at the top mark - in front of the grandstand at the end of Hobson wharf - the boats touched. Brady copped a penalty which ended his hopes.

"My bowman called me up and I thought we were okay at the start," Brady said. "But that's racing.

"It was a long day in very difficult conditions with the wind all over the place.

"But the wind and the current, especially at the start, evens things out. In the end after 22 [round-robin] races, the best four are going to make the semifinals. If we can finish with a good day we can still be there."

Appleton, who shared the lead with Pace and Brady after the first 11-race round-robin with eight wins, won three of his five in the second round-robin to remain in touch.

Magnus Holmberg, who leads the Swedish Match Race Tour by 20 points from Ed Baird (who is not in Auckland), continued his charge with five wins yesterday to leap into fourth place ahead of Dean Barker, who won his first two yesterday before losing his last two.

The remaining races in the second round-robin will be sailed from 10 am today, with the top four qualifying for tomorrow's best-of-three semifinals.