Pouring rain returned to Marstrand on the fourth day of the Swedish Match Cup, but the action on the water didn’t seem to be affected as the second group of competitors completed their entire round.

When the results were added up, Australia’s James Spithill finished as top-qualifier, advancing directly into the quarterfinals, as Sweden’s Mattias Rahm of Team Stena Bulk did the previous day.

“It was obviously a long day in the rain, and breeze direction made it challenging, it wasn’t ideal, but everyone had to deal with the same conditions,” commented Spithill.

Spithill won five matches on the day, but finished with 4.5 points after the race jury docked him half a point for his part in a collision with his former OneWorld Challenge boss Peter Gilmour, now sailing for Team Pizza-La.

“We had a good race, it was all on, we felt Peter caused the collision, but the jury thought otherwise, it cost us a half point, but that’s part of the game,” said Spithill.

Indicative of the day’s highly-competitive racing, Great Britain’s Chris Law of “The Outlaws,” Gilmour, US Virgin Islander Peter Holmberg of the Pelle Petterson Yachting Team and Poland’s Karol Jablonski of Jablonski Sailing all finished with records of 4-3.

Great Britain’s Andy Beadworth of Team Henri Lloyd and Sweden’s Magnus Holmberg of Team StoraEnso both recorded three wins on the day with Holmberg the final qualifier as American Ed Baird of Team Musto’s record of 2-5 squeezed him out of the regatta.

“We had some ups-and-downs today,” said Magnus Holmberg. “You get a couple of matches where you don’t do well, but all that’s important is you get through to tomorrow.”

In spite of the inclement weather, the Swedish public still flocked to the island in droves, lining the cliffs as usual, albeit wearing more clothing than has become part of the tradition at the Swedish Match Cup.

The Swedish Match Cup resumes today with the Open Class taking to the water in a first-to-three-points knock-out series between the second through seventh place finishers in Groups 1 and 2.

Results

Open Class – Group 1

1.James Spithill, Australia 4.5 wins 2 loses

2.Chris Law, GBR/”The Outlaws” 4 wins 3 loses

3.Peter Gilmour, AUS/Team Pizza-La 4 wins 3 loses

4.Peter Holmberg, USVI/Pelle Petterson Yachting 4 wins 3 loses

5.Karol Jablonski, POL/Jablonski Sailing 4 wins 3 loses

6.Andy Beadsworth, GBR/Team Henri Lloyd 3 wins 4 loses

7.Magnus Holmberg, SWE/Team StoraEnso 3 wins 4 loses

8.Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto 2 wins 5 loses

Group 2

Flight 1

M. Holmberg def. Baird

Jablonski def. P. Holmberg

Spithill (-.5) def. Gilmour

Beadsworth def. Law

Flight 2

P. Holmberg def. M. Holmberg-DNF

Law def. Spithill

Baird def. Jablonski

Gilmour def. Beadsworth

Flight 3

Spithill def. Jablonski

Baird def. Law

Beadsworth def. M. Holmberg

Gilmour def. P. Holmberg

Flight 4

Jablonski def. Beadsworth

Gilmour def. Baird

P. Holmberg def. Law

M. Holmberg def. Spithill

Flight 5

P. Holmberg def. Beadsworth

M. Holmberg def. Gilmour

Law def. Jablonski

Spithill def. Baird

Flight 6

Gilmour def. Jablonski

Law def. M. Holmberg

Spithill def. P. Holmberg

Beadsworth def. Baird

Flight 7

Law def. Gilmour

Spithill def. Beadsworth

P. Holmberg def. Baird

Jablonksi def. M, Holmberg – DSQ