Dubai: Australian boat Ichi Ban continued its good work in Division 1, while Westin Mina Seyahi kept up the pressure in Division 2 at the end of four races on the second day of the Maktoum Sailing Trophy being held off the Mina Seyahi waters at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) yesterday.
The event is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
In Division 3, it was a close contest between North Star and Rush North as they headed towards a mouth-watering confrontation for sole leadership with just one point separating the two boats.
Defending champions Eureka slipped into the third place after four races of this fourth edition of this competition.
In not so ideal sailing conditions, with winds not picking up at all, the day finally boiled down to the superior experience of the Ichi Ban, owned and skippered by Matt Allen. They currently head the standings in Division 1 with five points.
Dubai-based Yo!, winner of this month's Jumeirah Regatta with Toby O'Connell at the helm, took control of second place with nine points, while the RC44 boat Team Aqua skippered by Cameron Appleton was a further five points adrift with 14 points in third place.
Much of the excitement, however, was concentrated in Division 2 where Westin Mina Seyahi and Le Meridien tussled to gain control after four races.
But it was the experience of skipper Sultan Hareb that came to the fore as Westin Mina Seyahi took full control with five points at the top of the standings.
Le Meridien is in second with 10 points, while defending champion AGMC BMW crept in for third place with 12 points.
AGMC BMW, skippered by local lad Yousuf Bin Lahej, beat Westin by more than a minute in the fourth race yesterday, but the division leader had done enough in the previous three races to feel any impact.
Division 3 is being hotly contested by two of the best boats - North Star and Rush North - while defending champions Eureka are slowly gaining ground in third place.
