40th Contender World Championships - Final races underway

4:06 AM Tue 12 Jan 2010 GMT

'Jono Neate (AUS2323) leads the fleet away at the start of Race 6 on Day 3 of the Contender Worlds 2010' Contender Worlds 2010 Click Here to view large photo

Today is 'do or die' for several Contenders with aspirations of winning the 40th Contender World title which is on offer this afternoon.

Another sunny day as the fleet left the dock at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, with 12-13 knots blowing, and a little cloud to seaward. It's very humid, a perfect day for seam bowling.

The top Contenders handled their pre-race in very different ways. Christoph Homeier (GER551) appeared a little nervous, Jono Neate (AUS2323) was out early, while Andrea Bonezzi (ITA11) looked relaxed.

At the start of Race 9 the fleet was held out on Waterloo Bay as a new course was set to 060. Excitement as a catamaran capsized just below the pin and the mast stuck firmly in the Waterloo mud. Two men and a dog were rescued as the fleet focused for the start.

The breeze was now 13 knots from the north east.

As he had done in previous starts Jono Neate started on the pin, Matt Mulder (AUS2408) just up from him with Bonezzi and Homeier. Once more Neate's strategy worked well and he was the clear leader at the top mark ahead of Bonezzi, Mulder, Grant Robinson (AUS2136) and Homeier.

As they came in on the second reach it was Neate, Bonezzi, Mulder and Homeier at the bottom mark for the first time.

At the top mark for the second time, Neate came in from the left just one boat length ahead of Bonezzi and as they came round the mark they were nearly bow to stern.

Matt Mulder was next and then Robinson. Homeier was sixth and could now be out of contention for the title.

Jono Neate held on for victory, Andrea Bonezzi second, Matt Mulder third, then Christoph Homeier fourth.

Neate now drops a 7 and Bonezzi a 5, so Jono Neate leads the Contender World Championships by two points going into the final race.

More to follow.

by Rob Kothe

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