(written by Betsy Crowfoot - BlastReach Communications)

The Mayor’s Cup proved more welcoming to international competitors today as Brazil’s Caroline Bejar advanced to five wins, and clung to a chance to proceed to the semi-finals tomorrow, July 21st.

Bejar is one of three international crews, and five American teams, competing in the third annual Mayor’s Cup presented by St Mary Medical Center. As a Grade Two International Sailing Federation (ISAF) event, 40-percent of the competition must come from abroad.

Bejar’s team from Niterói, Brazil made a powerful comeback after winning just one race Thursday – opening day.

“Yesterday was not very good because the girls were still trying to solve problems and not make a lot of mistakes,” Bejar said, citing unfamiliarity with the 37-foot boats.

“Today, I asked them to do something and they’d do it in a second. All our maneuvers were perfect. That made me more confident, and my job and the tactician’s job easier.”

It was a day of upsets and excitement, under variable skies and 8-10 knots of breeze from the south. Previously undefeated Liz Baylis, of San Francisco Yacht Club, suffered two losses: to Sandy Hayes, of Sail Newport-Bayview Yacht Club; and Charlie Arms, of Southwestern Yacht Club.

Hayes said it took a day to get her new crew in tune with the Catalina 37s and each other. “Our timing still wasn’t there on our starts – accelerating, decelerating – but after two days now things went pretty well. It was a good day.

‘Even despite having a crew overboard. At one point, bow person Kelly O’Brien got swept off the foredeck by the jib at the windward mark rounding. Crew-mates yanked her aboard and kept on racing.

“We have a great crew. I absolutely love these big boats and having a big team,” said Hayes. She remains in second place with a 9-3 record of wins to losses, following frontrunner Liz Baylis at 10-2.

Charlie Arms is in third with 7-5 – following a loss to Long Beach local Claudia Wainer in the final match of the day, which saw Arms flagged for two penalties in a spirited pre-start session. Arms; Katie Lovell, at 6-6; and a trio of competitors at 5-7 -- Bejar, Wainer, and Australia’s Katie Spithill – will scrap for the last slot in the semi-finals tomorrow.

Two exciting flights remain of the round robins, beginning at noon Saturday. The top four competitors will then square off, and the two winners of these matches will advance immediately to the finals, where the 2007 Mayor’s Cup will be decided. Races can be viewed from the Belmont Pier and a commentator will be on hand to explain tactics and rules to spectators. For results and more information, go to www.mayorscuplongbeach.com

The Mayor’s Cup is organized by Long Beach Yacht Club and the Long Beach Sailing Foundation; presented by St. Mary Medical Center of Long Beach in conjunction with the Port of Long Beach, and operated by the Charter Communications Long Beach Sea Festival.

DAY TWO - OVERALL RESULTS
Liz Baylis USA 10-2
Sandy Hayes USA 9-3
Charlie Arms USA 7-5
Katy Lovell USA 6-6
Katie Spithill AUS 5-7
Claudia Wainer USA 5-7
Caroline Bejar BRA 5-7
Delphine Casas FRA 1-11