The efforts of France’s Pierre LEBOUCHER and Nicolas LE BERRE to win the men’s 470 World Title during the 50th Anniversary of the Intl. 470 Class looked very hopeful until the drama of today where they ended first race with the unlucky number 13, and an even worst result of 20th in today’s second, and last race of the men’s 470 finals before the medal race tomorrow. Mat BELCHER and Will RYAN (AUS) take the overnight top spot on the leaderboard. The Australian men haven’t lost a single major event over the last period, however in tomorrow’s final medal race, they will have to deal with a crew that has never been so close to a World Title as today. Panaglotis MANTIS and Pavlos KAGIALIS from Greece, separated by 7 points only in current overnight standings. Their names will be the subject of tonight’s strategy plan discussed in Kovalenko’s nerve center.

The 9th of August is the day at the women’s 470 Worlds where Jo ALEH and Polly POWRIE (NZL) strengthen their lead and allow Lara VADLAU and Jolanta OGAR (AUT) in between them and France’s Camille LECOINTRE and Mathilde GERON. The French girls were still looking at a chance for the World Title, until today’s last where they ended in 21st position. Gold is still in sight, but it will take major failures of the women from New Zealand and Austria.