Breitling MedCup Castellón - Race 4: Siemens first, sneaks past Rush and Santa Ana

The opening race of the second day has been sailed in lighter conditions than yesterday with a 6-7 knot breeze. Yet again the left hand side of the line paid off well and boats at the right hand end of the line struggled to find pace at the start. Warpath and Mutua Madrilena both started at this end and strove to fight their way back through the fleet. However, on the first beat the end result was more or less decided with the top three boats, Rush, Santa Ana and Siemens pulling away from the rest of the fleet. Rush led the race for most of the race with Santa Ana in second. Siemens won the top podium position on the last leg in an almost exact repeat of Platoon's performance yesterday.

Bambakou (left) and Orlanda in a close situation during prestart of the fourth race of the Breitling MedCup Castellón regatta. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Warpath (left) and Bribón got squeezed in prestart of the fourth race. Warpath had no option but cross early. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the fourth race of the Breitling MedCup Castellón regatta. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the fourth race of the Breitling MedCup Castellón regatta. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the fourth race of the Breitling MedCup Castellón regatta. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the fourth race of the Breitling MedCup Castellón regatta. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Rush rounding the windward gate ahead of the fleet. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Santa Ana and Siemens rounding the windward gate second and third respectively. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ONO rounding the windward gate. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Orlanda and Bribón rounding the windward gate. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The leaders of fleet arriving at the leeward gate. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Rush rounded the leeward gate ahead of Santa Ana and Siemens. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Despite having Russell Coutts on the helm and Paul Cayard as tactician, Lexus has stayed exactly in the middle of the leaderboard. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Two other teams that did not live up to expectations today were Mutua Madrileña and Warpath, both having 6 Emirates Team New Zealand members on their crew. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Santa Ana and Rush luffing on the final stretch of the race. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

While Santa Ana and Rush were luffing, Ian Walker helming Siemens sneaks in from the left side and scores his first victory. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The large TP52 fleet can create very close situations on the finish line such as this one, where TAU Cerámica-Andalucia, C-Quadrat and Balearia reach the finish. Castellón, 6 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing