Sport | Sailing
Ichi Ban keep the good work going
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.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:05 February 27, 2008
- Participants in action during the second day of the Maktoum Sailing Trophy off the Mina Seyahi at Dubai International Marine Club.
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
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.
Share this article
Popular in Sport
-
Pictures
Kings of the court
The world's top tennis players who will battle in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
Sport Editor's choice
-
Davydenko stuns Federer to enter ATP final
The number 13 proved unlucky for World No.1 Roger Federer as he wilted before Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
-
Afghanistan snap UAE's victory run
Man of the match Hassan takes ten runs of the last two balls to spoil hosts' winning run in the tournament
-
Lewis, Peters take four shot leads
Players enter final day of boys' and girls' competitions at the Abu Dhabi Junior Championship
