Unbeaten after seven flights, Team Sea Dubai is almost certain to win the title. Indeed, the local team’s closest rival, Artemis, sits two points behind whilst the team from the Emirates won the direct confrontation this afternoon. All they have to do is cross the line and avoid any penalising collision.

 

Team Aqua started the day well, with a victory over Team Austria. The team then sailed against Ceeref, in one of the day's closest matches. A photo finish was almost necessary to name the winner, but unfortunately it was Ceeref. The 20 centimers that made the difference cost a lot: indeed, Team Aqua ends up eighth overall, however just one point behind the third spot overall!

 

The match of the day, between Team Sea Dubai and Terry Hutchinson’s Artemis, delivered all its promises. The two boats started on split tacks at full speed and immediately engaged in a tacking dual. Just ahead of its opponent after the first cross, Hutchinson made a slight error of appreciation that allowed Team Sea Dubai to close the gap. The two teams then engaged in a dial up as they were nearing the windward mark. Markus Wieser came out of it better than Artemis and rounded the mark two boat lengths ahead. Hutchinson tried hard to come back during the rest of the race, but Wieser and his crewmembers held on tight and won the race.

 

“We focused on the basics”, commented Hartwell Jordan, Team Sea Dubai’s mainsail trimmer and strategist. “Last night, we debriefed our first day and decided not to change anything and to carry on sailing for fun, without putting any unnecessary pressure on our shoulders. We felt comfortable with our course management and boat speed, so we didn’t feel the need to put a specific strategy in place. We just went for it as relaxed and focused as we could.”

 

Disappointed by his results today (two losses against TSD and No Way Back), Terry Hutchinson remained as positive as he could. “The day was good”, he said. “We won our two starts and managed to keep the pressure all along. Unfortunately, we did some mistakes. In the first race, we went to the wrong side of the course and our timing was slightly wrong in the second one. I have the feeling that we bet ourselves more than anything else.”  

 

Whilst Team Sea Dubai is almost certain to win the title, the rest of the podium remains open. Artemis is currently second with four points, followed by five teams on a tie in third with three points.

 

Despite the winner being almost certainly known, the last two flights will definitely not be for the gallery!