Anders Pedersen leads Finn Silver Cup after first races on Lake Garda

A beautiful breeze welcomed the sailors at Fraglia Vela Malcesine for two early morning races on Monday 8 July for the second day of the Finn Silver Cup. Eager to start their World Championship, after Sunday's racing was cancelled, the young Finn sailors were on the water and ready at 7.30am. The northerly breeze had reached 14 knots when the start of the first race was given at 8am. The course and the building wind was favouring the left side of the lake with a clear start at the crowded pin end. The lead was quickly taken by Norwegian Anders Pedersen who had seen his season début cut short with illness while racing in Palma. 

 

Pedersen seem to have fully recovered from a long rest and was hard to catch on the water today. However Brazil's youngest Finn Olympian Jorg Zarif didn't leave any opportunity unturned and finally stole the lead on the last run. Not far behind, Jake Lilley (AUS), 2011 Junior World Champion Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) and Peter McCoy enjoyed the free pumping. McCoy (GBR) who was among the leaders at the first top mark sailed the wrong course around the gybe mark, but didn't lose any positions, catching up on the downwind legs. Defending Champion Martin Robitaille (CAN) didn't race at his best, missing the pressure under the cliffs but still finished in seventh place.

The second race had less wind and the Oscar flag was removed. Australian Jake Lilley secured a good start down from the committee boat to lead the fleet until the last run where Pedersen took his revenge from the first race and the bullet. Lilley settled for second in front of a very consistent Kistanov. Zarif who had totally missed the start in third row, caught up steadily to finish fourth.

At 10.30 all sailors were back ashore for some rest and breakfast.

With racing cancelled on Sunday, the first day of the regatta, through lack of wind, a third race was planned in the afternoon. But playing catch up wasn't easy and the capricious southerly breeze came at 1pm and disappeared as quickly. After waiting on the water the sailors came back to the club but the wind never stabilised on the lake, so it will be another early start at 8am on Tuesday.

After two races Anders Pedersen from Norway is leading with Jorge Zarif second on equal points with World # 8 Jake Lilley (AUS).

Results after two races

1	NOR 1	Pedersen Anders, DSSF	3,0	2	1
2	BRA 109	Zarif Jorge, ICRJ	5,0	1	4
3	AUS 41	Lilley Jake, RQYS	5,0	3	2
4	RUS 6	Kistanov Arkadiy, CSK VMF	7,0	4	3
5	GBR 29	McCoy Peter, ESSC	10,0	5	5
6	CAN 110	Robitaille Martin, CVL RCYC	14,0	7	7
7	ITA 213	De Luca Umberto, YCT - FANTASTICA	15,0	6	9
8	GER 595	Gorgels Simon, DTYC	16,0	8	8
9	ITA 214	Bevilacqua Riccardo, SVOC - FANTASTICA	22,0	12	10
10	POL 7	Marciniak Jakub, AZSPG	24,0	18	6