Sailing: Percy closes in on European triumph

Stuart Alexander
Thursday 10 June 1999 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

BRITAIN'S Iain Percy is one race away from winning gold in the European Finn Championship in Ostend today.

The 23-year-old from Winchester took the bronze medal at his first attempt last year, and his fourth place yesterday extended his lead over the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world champion, Mateusz Kusnierewicz, of Poland, to nine points.

"I kept an eye on what Mateusz was doing, but conditions were so tricky you really had to sail your own race," said Percy, who is seen as a hot prospect for an Olympic medal next year.

He was fourth in the World Championships at Melbourne in January, holds the same position in the world rankings, and is making giant strides in the heavier of the two single-handed Olympic classes.

Two big America's Cup names crashed out of the Royal Lymington Cup yesterday. Both the New Zealanders Gavin Brady, linked with two of the five American syndicates lining up for the Louis Vuitton Cup this October, and John Cutler, a helmsman on Dawn Riley's San Francisco-based America True, failed to make the cut from the six in Group A. It was won by another Kiwi, Murray Jones, with Britain's Andy Beadsworth chasing second-placed Luc Pillot, of France.

But enjoying an unbeaten path to the second-round robin, due to be completed today, is Britain's Ian Williams, who led Group B after his five wins.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in