Contender World Championships Race 3 - Local knowledge pays

5:17 AM Sat 9 Jan 2010 GMT

'Contenders basking in the sunshine - Morning Day 2 Contender Worlds 2010' Contender Worlds 2010 Click Here to view large photo

On day two of the 40th Contender World Championships being sailed from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Manly in Queensland, competitors were greeted by a glorious day with 12 knots of breeze as they made their way to the start line for Race 3.

Current World Champion and early event leader, Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11) started half way down the line and led a group of Contenders out to the right side of the course in softening conditions.

Two boats were over early.

It was Australian Champion Matt Mulder (AUS2408), Steven Grimes (AUS2179), German sailor Christoph Homeier (GER551) and Bonezzi as they came on the reach to the wing mark. Conditions had softened down to eight or nine knots so sailors were not on trapezes. Local sailor Steven Grimes came in on a different line from the leaders and soaked inside the course and came towards the mark with more pressure.

Homeier rounded in second, with Bonezzi close behind. Mulder, who had done so well early in the race, fell back into sixth place; conditions just too light for big Matt.

Reaching down towards the third mark, the middle of the fleet were up on their trapezes as the breeze freshened.

At the bottom mark Grimes had extended his lead from Homeier and Bonezzi. Jono Neate (AUS2323) was fourth with yesterday's second race winner Simon Mussell (GBR 2420) on his hammer.

By now the conditions had softened to seven or eight knots of breeze at the top of the course.

Grimes began to sail away with the race. At the top mark he held a ten boat length advantage over Homeier. Mussell came in fast on the port lay line but was slow on the tack and Bonezzi sailed inside him.

At the bottom mark for the last time, Mussell had overtaken Bonezzi . Neate was still holding onto fifth place.

Grimes crossed the line first, with Homeier, Mussell and Neate following him. Bonezzi finished in fifth.

Winner Steven Grimes grinned 'I started mid line, I worked the middle of the course and just played the shifts up the first beat, then I stayed low on the first reach and that's what really did it.'

Sailors are now preparing for the start of race 4.

More to follow.

by Al Constable and Rob Kothe

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