Match Cup Sweden enters second day

(BEIJING, July 5) -- In sunny Marstrand on Wednesday, July 2, the Trifork Racing Team took the lead, dominating five of seven matches at the Match Cup Sweden. Dane Jes Gram-Hansen's place in the quarterfinals, scheduled for Friday, is now guaranteed. Swedes Magnus Holmberg and his Victory Challenge Team and Mattias Rahm and his Stena Bulk Racing Team will also go on to the next stage of competition.

Brasil Sailing Cup victor Paolo Cian and his team Shosholoza will not be moving on here. Match Cup Germany champion Damien Iehl and his French Match Racing Team are also in an unfavorable position with only three wins, but with three more matches to go, they still stand a chance of entering the quarterfinals.

Ben Ainslie of Great Britain and his team Origin are also unlikely to sail on Friday. Although they performed well at the starts, they have only thre wins under their sailing belts with only one competition left on Thursday. Ainslie was frustrated and surprised with his performance. "It was fun sailing today, but frustrating too, as I felt we were sailing well, with good starts and good speed. But in not having match raced since last September, we're just not as tuned as some of these other teams that are sailing on the Tour, so our stupid mistakes really cost us."

More sunny skies and warm weather are predicted for day three of Match Cup Sweden, when round robin racing will be completed. More than 30,000 people are expected to come out to enjoy the sun and sail.