| RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL-(18-2-2004) Two thirds of the way through the Finn world
championship, defending world champion Ben Ainslie overtook his nearest
rival Mateusz Kusznierewicz of Poland after scoring a first and a twelfth
place. He has established a seven point lead over the 54 boat fleet on his
quest to win a third consecutive world title.
In the first race, which took place in 8-10 knots of wind, Ainslie rounded
the first mark in second place and moved his way up to the front of the
fleet by the third mark, holding his lead until the end of the race.
The second race of the day didn't quite go the way of the first, Ainslie got
a bad start and rounded the windward mark in 33rd place. He worked his way
through the fleet to finish in twelfth place which was enough to see him
take the lead in the championship with three races to go.
Fellow RYA Team GBR sailor Andrew Simpson scored a fourteenth and a fourth
place to move him up to ninth place overall.
Ainslie commented, `In the first race I got it just about right. I started
at the pin end and managed to move into the lead on the final run. In the
second race, after the general recall, the race committee moved the pin end
mark and I made a mistake to start by the committee boat. Soon after the
start the wind shifted back, and those who started at the pin crossed me by
miles. I rounded the top mark in the 30s, but managed to pull up a lot so I
have to be reasonably happy with a twelfth place.`
David Howlett, RYA Team GBR Finn coach commented, `The funny thing is Ben
seems to be making it look easy but it is definitely not easy. The
conditions here are really tricky and anything can happen.`
Two races are scheduled for tomorrow with the final race taking place on
Friday 20 February.
| 
