Zabalúa takes the lead at Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup after two bullets on 2nd day

Nothing is written in stone yet at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. After today’s two races with an Easterly thermal breeze between 6 and 9 knots, won by Agustin Zabalua, the Argentinean springs to the lead of the fleet after four races and a discard. Croatian Ivan Gaspic and Hungarian Zsombor Berecz are second on the provisional scoreboard with only a two-point difference. Tomorrow is going to be a make or break day with two races scheduled, and the second one carrying double points and non-discardable.

In the first race Zabalua’s victory was clear-cut, whereas in the second the Argentinean sailor took advantage of the match race between Zsombor and Gaspic who battled it out on the whole last downwind leg, losing contact with Zabalua who gave it his best and overtook the two on the finishing line. A great show on the water for all 30 helmsmen.

Back on the docks Zabalua stated: “Lady Luck smiled down on me today: I found good pressure at the centre of the course while the other two were duelling. I would like to point out that I come from the Snipe class and weigh 72 kilos. The Hungarian was an Olympic athlete in the Laser class and weighs 82 kilos and the Croatian weighs 98 kilos and races in the Finn class: nonetheless, we fought it out up the beat and down the run! Tomorrow it’s a do or die situation, but with the double point system in the last race anything can happen. The road ahead is challenging”.

British Ed Wright is fourth on the scoreboard (today with a 6-4) and Italian Alberto Ferrari is fifth (7-12).

Tomorrow the warning signal for the last two races is scheduled for 2 p.m. The weather forecast calls for a Westerly breeze. Tonight a Gala Dinner will take place at the Real Club Nautico de Valencia for the 31 helmsmen from 14 countries that entered the event

MAGIC MARINE BETPRO D-ONE GOLD CUP

RESULTS AFTER 4 RACES (1 DISCARD)

Pos	Helmsman	Country	1	2	3	4	Total
1	AGUSTIN ZABALUA	ESPAÑA	4	2	1	1	4
2	IVAN KLIAKOVIC GASPIC	CROATIA	3	1	5	2	6
3	ZSOMBOR BERECK	HUNGARY	1	6	2	3	6
4	EDWARD WRIGHT	GREAT BRITAIN	6	3	6	4	13
5	ALBERTO FERRARI	ITALY	2	11	7	12	20
6	ANDREA GIAMMARINI	ITALIA	5	4	11	16	20
7	JONATHAN LOBERT	FRANCE	10	14	4	7	21
8	ANDREA GANCIA	ITALIA	11	20	8	5	24
9	MATT COUTTS	NEW ZELAND	22	9	9	6	24
10	FABIO TOCCOLI	ITALY	12	5	21	9	26
11	ROMAN TEPLY	CZECH REPUBLIC	13	8	10	8	26
12	ANDY TURTON	AUSTRALIA	19	17	3	10	30
13	PAOLO ROSSI	ITALY	7	7	18	20	32
14	TIM GARVIN	GREAT BRITAIN	9	12	17	11	32
15	MICHAEL MAIER	CZECH REPUBLIC	8	10	16	18	34
16	GUIDO FALCIOLA	ITALY	23	21	12	14	47
17	GIOVANNI TRICARICO	ITALY	20	22	14	19	53
18	STEFFEN BOCK	GERMANY	14	18	24	22	54
19	BRET PERRY	AUSTRALIA	16	15	23	23	54
20	VICENTE IRANZO	SPAIN	28	31	15	13	56
21	KEITH FEDI	GREAT BRITAIN	15	13	31	31	59
22	MATTHIAS GROTHUES-SPORK	GERMANY	21	16	22	25	59
23	PHILIPPE ROGGE	ITALY	18	31	25	17	60
24	STEFANO CARUSO	ITALY	17	24	20	27	61
25	MICHELE TOGNOZZI	ITALY	25	26	13	29	64
26	RALF BEHRENS	GERMANY	24	19	27	24	67
27	WALTER RITSHCKA	AUSTRIA	27	23	19	26	68
28	RAFAEL TRUJILLO	SPAIN	31	31	26	15	72
29	GIANCARLO PRAGLIOLA	ITALY	26	25	28	28	79
30	SUMIO SHIMOYAMA	JAPAN	31	31	29	21	81