TZANOV SET TO LIFT MAKTOUM SAILING TROPHY

Kristian Tzanov and his K1 Offshore Racing Team stayed firmly in control of the Maktoum Sailing Trophy today (Thursday) as the Gulf region’s top fleet racing series headed towards its climax at Dubai International Marine Club.

Tzanov, who switches regularly between powerboat racing and sailing, was back on his Pal Zileri-sponsored yacht this afternoon to help skipper Francis Carr and his crew win both of the day’s two races to move within reach of the title.

Barring any disasters, former moto cross rider Tzanov, who competes in the GCC Class 3 Powerboat Championship, will clinch the Maktoum Trophy when the fourth round concludes tomorrow (Friday). Once again defending champions Horizon FCB, skippered by Frenchmen Christophe Vanek and Alain Fédensieu, had to be content with second place in both races and look certain to finish runners up in the 2006 series.

After winning each of the three previous rounds, skipper Carr and his crew were in no mood to relax their grip on the series, there was a familiar pattern to the proceedings as they took victory from Horizon in the day’s first race. Skippered by Will Ramage and Cam Price, Switchblade strengthened its grip on third place overall in the series by following the top two home.

Mattafix, skippered by David Rostant, Rob Weight’s Tisaheel 2 and Victory, skippered by Jeroen Leeenen, completed the top six. It was much the same in race two as the K1 team won again from Horizon, with Mattafix this time taking third spot. Finishing fourth was Switchblade, followed by Paul Dilworth’s Goodrich Serdal and Victory, skippered by Jeroen Leenen.

Gill Smith, who has dominated Class 2 throughout the series, was also once again in great form, winning both of the day’s races ahead of defending John Rose in Insatiable.

1. K1 Offshore Racing Team (Francis Carr)
2. Horizon FCB (Christophe Vanek & Alain Fedensieu)
3. Switchblade (Will Ramage, Cam Price)
4. Mattafix (David Rostant)
5. Tissaheel 2 (Rob Weight)
6. Victory (Jeroen Leenen)
7. Twister (Glywn & Karen Rowlands)
8. Goodrich Serdal (Paul Dilworth)
9. Virgo Bellica (Cedric Le Rest)
10. Yo! (Toby O'Connell)
11. Get the Mina Effect (Peter Eldridge)
12. Vacheron Constantin Team Racing (Mark Devitt)

1. Blitzem (Gill Smith)
2. Insatiable (John Rose)
3. Jinin (Mike Jeffs)
4. Dubai 2 (Ahmed Shaheen)
5. Binker (Ben Trenouth)

1. K1 Offshore Racing Team (Francis Carr)
2. Horizon FCB (Christophe Vanek & Alain Fedensieu)
3. Mattafix (David Rostant)
4. Goodrich Serdal (Paul Dilworth)
5. Switchblade (Will Ramage, Cam Price)
6. Victory (Jeroen Leenen)
7. Yo! (Toby O'Connell)
8. Tissaheel 2 (Rob Weight)
8. Twister (Glywn & Karen Rowlands)
10. Virgo Bellica (Cedric Le Rest)
11. Get the Mina Effect (Peter Eldridge) 

1. Blitzem (Gill Smith)
2. Insatiable (John Rose)
3. Jinin (Mike Jeffs)
4. Binker (Ben Trenouth)
5. Dubai 2 (Ahmed Shaheen)

Provisional fourth round positions after two of five races: Class 1

1. K1 Offshore Racing Team (Francis Carr) 2pts
2. Horizon FCB (Christophe Vanek & Alain Fedensieu) 4pts
3. Mattafix (David Rostant) 7pts
4. Switchblade (Will Ramage, Cam Price) 8pts
5. Goodrich Serdal (Paul Dilworth) 12pts
6. Victory (Jeroen Leenen) 12pts
7. Tissaheel 2 (Rob Weight) 13pts
8. Twister (Glywn & Karen Rowlands) 16pts
9. Yo! (Toby O'Connell) 17pts
10. Virgo Bellica (Cedric Le Rest) 19pts
11. Get the Mina Effect (Peter Eldridge) 22pts
12. Vacheron Constantin Team Racing (Mark Devitt) 26pts
13. ART Marine (Mark Feilberg) 28pts

1. Blitzem (Gill Smith) 2pts
2. Insatiable (John Rose) 4pts
3. Jinin (Mike Jeffs) 6pts
4. Dubai 2 (Ahmed Shaheen) 10pts
5. Binker (Ben Trenouth) 12pts

Captions:

1& 2 . Final round action from the Maktoum Sailing Trophy as the fleet enters the waters of The Palm Jumeirah for the first time

3. Defending champions Horizon FCB in action in the day’s first race off Dubai International Marine Club.

- Tony LEWIS, Narayana Marar, TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS DUBAI-