(Written By Bob Fisher, Portugal Cup web site)

Sally Barkow of the USA was the only skipper unbeaten on the second day of the regatta and her beaten opponents include two of the other favourites to triumph in the Women’s Match Cup, Claire Leroy of France and Klaartje Zuiderbaan of the Netherlands. At the completion of 14 of the 20 flights, Barkow is the clear leader with a nine wins and one defeat score line.

On a day when the breeze reached sufficient strength for the race committee to request a reef for one flight, the crew choice of Barkow paid dividends. Explained Sharon Ferris, her Kiwi crew: “We knew that this would be a windy regatta and Sally chose a crew that was close to the upper weight limit.” Barkow’s crew is the heaviest at the event and 33kgs heavier than Leroy’s.

But it is not only weight that counts for this crew. “We are here to have fun as well,” said Ferris, “three of us are fresh from the World Championships in Cascais and that was an important regatta for us.” Annie Lush sailed with Shirley Robertson, and both Ferris and Barkow skippered their own Yngling.

It is a quality crew and yet its members had not sailed together before. “We are having to build a team as we go along,” said Ferris with a grin, and went on to explain their strategy today: “We had to sail the [wind] shifts, and head for the extra pressure. Our toughest match was against Camilla Ulrikkeholm, our last one today. She made us go to the left hand leeward mark and took the right into the better pressure.”

Nevertheless the multi-national team – Barkow has a Brit, a Kiwi and three Americans in her crew – came out on top in that one, reversing the result in the first round robin and appears to have an easier time in store tomorrow, at least until the very last match of the round when she faces Zuiderbaan, currently the next best placed skipper.

Scores after 14 flights:

Sally Barkow USA 9-1
Klaartje Zuiderbaan NED 7-3
Jenny Axhede SWE 7-3
Camilla Ulrikkeholm DEN 6-4
Claire Leroy FRA 5-5
Rita Gonçalves POR 3-7
Julie Bossard FRA 2-8
Lotta Thorelius SWE 1-9

Organization: Sun Sailing Team, Clube Naval de Sesimbra e Wolrd Match Racing Tour. Main Sonsors: Turismo de Portugal.i.p.; Troia Resort. Sponsors: Grupo Sá Machado. Partners: Amorim Turismo, RTPN, Rádio Capital, Hertz. Oficial Partners: Marinha, Federação Portuguesa de Vela, ISAF – Federação Internacional de Vela, Crescer Ser, Administração dos Portos de Setúbal e Sesimbra, Porto de Sesimbra, Porto de Setúbal, Câmara Municipal de Grandola e Região Turismo Costa Azul. Suppliers: Chivas, Atlantis, Aquabona, Coca-Cola, Panasonic, Capeduc, Nespresso, L’Occitane, Novis, Cateri, X. Yachts, Elvstrom Sobstad, Faz Acontecer, Nuimbus Boats, PortalAventuras.com


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