| MARSTRAND, SWEDEN-(7-6-2004) The Open Regatta at the Swedish Match Cup commenced
today, and four of the eight skippers in Group A opened the event by posting
3-1 records on a sparkling day of racing.
With westerly winds blowing 18 to 24 knots, Karol Jablonski, Mattias Rahm,
Gavin Brady and Magnus Holmberg won three of four races and stand tied atop
the leaderboard. Chris Law and Jesper Bank are one win behind at 2-2.
Michael Dunstan and Johnie Berntsson are 0-4.
`You couldn't get more perfect conditions than today,` said Law, the event's
defending champion who celebrated his 52nd birthday yesterday. `I'm thrilled
to be here racing at 52.`
Law's match against Rahm was one of the day's highlights. The two were never
separated by more than one boatlength, and Rahm eked out the narrow victory
by a half length.
`I mistimed the start, we lost a winch handle overboard and we only lost by
half a length,` said Law.
Rahm was pleased with his 3-1 mark on the day. He's competing at the Swedish
Match Cup for the third straight year, and last year won the round robin.
`I'm used to sailing these boats,` Rahm said. `I know where to be when the
wind is coming from certain directions. And you don't know how critical that
can be on this racecourse.`
The Brady-Holmberg match also provided thrills and highlights for the some
500 spectators watching the racing from the rocky shoreline. The two
skippers are separated by 6 points on the Swedish Match Tour leaderboard.
That's a difference of $15,000 in the final standings.
Holmberg and his SeaLife Rangers crew won the start and led Brady's crew
from the BMW Oracle Racing America's Cup syndicate around the first lap.
Holmberg protected the right side up the second beat, but Brady made gains
to the left.
They converged at the windward mark on opposite tacks, with Holmberg holding
the starboard advantage.
`We wanted to protect the right, but maybe he was tacking a little better,`
said Holmberg, a founder of the Swedish Match Cup 11 years ago.
`We were approaching each other on opposite tacks,` Holmberg continued. `I
tried slowing down to block him from rounding, but he saw me slow down and
slowed down too.`
Holmberg luffed head to wind attempting to block Brady, but Brady ducked
around Holmberg's transom and then jammed his boat in between Holmberg and
the mark.
Holmberg not only gave up the lead, but he also received a penalty from the
on-water umpires.
`They deemed I went past head to wind, | 
