Friday's racing saw a surprising early departure for the current World Tour leader and World Ranked #1 Ian Williams. Williams is always very strong in the starting box but with the conditions being light, this was less of an advantage. Joining Ian Williams in elimination were Bjorn Hansen, Carsten Kemmling and Wearn Haw Tan of China Team.
While the names at the top of the leader board are familiar, it was the 25-year-old Russian who stole the show and kept over 25,000 visitors on the shore side watching in anticipation as he cleaned up and won five races out of seven. Eugeniy Neugodnikov, Russia's rising match-racer, made a splash when he won his first match against America's Cup skipper Paolo Cian of Team Shosholoza.
Neugodnikov, looked like an experienced hand in his first race as it was a forgone conclusion when he crossed the finish line with Cian questioning whether he was actually in the race. He then went on to win a further four races and secured his spot in the semi final along with Mathieu Richard, Paolo Cian and Staffan Lindberg. Unfortunately Neugodnikov was unable to maintain his winning form in the first two races against Cian in the semis. It was a similar story for Mathieu Richard and Staffan Lindberg with Richard securing two wins.
Paolo Cian won his second World Match Racing Tour championship when he defeated Mathieu Richard 2-0 in the final of the 10th annual Match Race Germany. Cian, helmsman of the South African Americas Cup-team Shosholoza, and his crew overcame the French Saba Sailing team of Mathieu Richard. Cian and his Team Shosholoza crew finished with a 13 -5 record.
Shifty conditions with gusty 10 to 15 knot winds challenged the finalists and were significant in the tight races that were displayed. However, it was a tacking duel in both races that allowed Cian to display his skill as an America's Cup helmsman. Despite coming second, Richard has earned enough points to secure the number one spot on the World Match Racing Tour leader board. He currently leads with 70 points. He is closely followed by Cian with 66 points, whilst the World #1, Ian Williams, slips in to third place with 62 points.
The petite final saw Staffan Lindberg of Alandia Sailing Team take on Eugeniy Neugodnikov's team Lord of the Sail. Neugodnikov lost both his races to take the 4th spot.
