Defending nation, Australia, helmed by Nicky SOUTER had a great start to their competion ending the day with four wins and no loss. World Ranked number 1 women's match racer Claire LEROY also completed four matches but dropped a point to end the day with three wins and one loss. Bermuda also had a good day with PaulA LEWIN steering them to a clean sweep of three wins and no loss.

It was also a good day for the home team skippered by Mary O'LOUGHLIN, who came out with two wins and two losses.

AINSLIE Cleans Up

Team Shosholoza’s Ian AINSLIE (RSA) had a successful opening day in his bid to defend South Africa's Nations Cup title posting five wins from five matches.

All ten teams completed five matches of the first round robin and the second best showing was from France, lead by Mathieu RICHARD. Starting a little later than scheduled the breeze increased to 16 knots steady from the south west.

Russia, skippered by Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV, recent winner of the ISAF Grade 1 Toyota Sopot Match Race and the Yava Trophy showed that he is still very much on form and a hot favourite to win the title. In their first match against New Zealand, Russia took a 360º penalty at the start which they must complete any time before the finish.  The two teams sailed on and were neck and neck leading to the finish. Russia being leeward boat pushed New Zealand past the finishing line and then as they gybed to go behind new Zealand completed their penalty and finished ahead of New Zealand. NEUGODNIKOV did however slip up and ends the day with three wins and two losses - one of those, to the delight of the home fans, being to the local Irish team skippered by George KINGSTON.

ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final Results

Open

Round Robin Standings

1. South Africa, Ian AINSLIE, 5-0
2. France, Mathieu RICHARD, 4-1
3. Russia, Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV, 3-2
3. Sweden, Martin ANGSELL, 3-2
5. New Zealand, Simon DICKEY, 2-3
5. USA, Brian ANGEL, 2-3
5. India, Mahesh RAMCHANDRAN, 2-3
5. Argentina, Juan GRIMALDI, 2-3
9. Ireland, George KINGSTON, 1-4
9. Portugal, Helder BASILIO, 1-4

Women's

Round Robin Standings

1. Australia, Nicky SOUTER, 4-0
2. Bermuda, Paula LEWIN, 3-0
3. France, Claire LEROY, 3-1
4. Denmark, Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN, 2-2
4. Ireland, Mary O'LOUGHLIN, 2-2
6. New Zealand, Jess SMYTH, 1-2
6. Netherlands, Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN, 1-2
8. Brazil, Rossana RAMOS, 0-3
9. Great Britain, Lucy MACGREGOR, 0-4

For all the news on the Grand Final CLICK HERE.

The ISAF Nations Cup, which was first introduced to the world in 1991, is based on a series of Regional Finals with the top crews meeting at the Grand Final. The aim of the event is to broaden the availability of match racing and provide international match racing competition for national authorities and sailors at a reasonable cost, whilst acting as an incentive for national match racing programmes.

For a complete list of all the news from the ISAF Nations Cup 2006 CLICK HERE.