Overall

Bertrand Pace of Team New Zealand joined Kiwi sailing legend Russell Coutts as the only two time winner in the 22 year history of the Steinlager Line 7 Cup, the fourth event on the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. In the championship final Pace was pushed to the limit and ultimately outdueled Gavin Brady of the Prada Challenge by less than a boat length in the final of a tense, five-match affair. This thrilling climax was a fitting end to a week's worth of exciting match racing. In the first match of the finals Bertrand Pace took the fight to Brady and sailed past the Prada Challenge representative by a ten-second margin. Match number two was much tighter as Pace and Brady battled down to the line with the young Prada skipper outmaneuvering the cagey Pace at the line to pull even at one match apiece. In match three Brady built on the momentum from his prior dramatic win to sail past Pace and go up 2-1. In match four experience was served as Pace turned back several challenges from Brady to set up a fifth and final match for the Steinlager Line 7 Cup championship. In the petit final Holmberg and Appleton staged their own battles as Appleton proved victorious to post a third place finish in the regatta. In the process Holmberg claimed 12 points to grow his Swedish Match Tour points lead to 19 points over Pace who picked up 25 points of his own with his first place finish this week. In the semifinals raced earlier in the day Pace ended an overnight of suspense, when, by virtue of being the top qualifier for the semifinals, he chose teammate Cameron Appleton as his opponent. Pace easily handled his young Kiwi teammate and swept Appleton 3-0 in the best-of-five match semifinal. That left Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour points leader Magnus Holmberg of Team StoraEnso and the Swedish Victory Challenge to face Gavin Brady of the Prada Challenge. Holmberg won the first two matches against Brady but was unable to seal the deal as Brady battled back to take the final three matches and advance to the final to battle Pace. In other action on the day Team NZ leader Dean Barker defeated Rod Davis of the Prada Challenge for fifth place, Chris Dickson of Oracle Racing defeated Jesper Radich of Denmark for seventh place and Andy Green of the GBR Challenge defeated Jes Gram-Hansen of Denmark for ninth place. Semifinal Results : Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Bertrand Pace (NZL) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Bertrand Pace (NZL) def. Cameron Appleton (NZL) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Bertrand Pace (NZL) def. Cameron Appleton (NZL) Petit Finals : Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Cameron Appleton (NZL) Cameron Appleton (NZL) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Cameron Appleton (NZL def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Finals : Bertrand Pace (NZL) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Bertrand Pace (NZL) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Bertrand Pace (NZL) Bertrand Pace (NZL) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Bertrand Pace (NZL) def. Gavin Brady (ITA)

Day 4

The day was marked by excellent conditions out on the water. A wind shift between Flights Ten and Eleven brought the race course right into the Waitemata Harbor area between Hobson Wharf and Princes Wharf. This change provided great viewing for the large crowd of spectators who had gathered in the Viaduct Basin throughout the afternoon. Bertrand Pace (Team NZ), Gavin Brady (Prada Challenge), Magnus Holmberg (Team Stora Enso / Victory Challenge) and Cameron Appleton (Team NZ) advanced to the semi-finals of the Steinlager Cup. First to secure a place in the semi-finals was Bertrand Pacé, who ends up as the top qualifier, and earning him the right to choose his opponent in the best of three race semis. The right to choose his opponent is not something that Pace relishes, "I don't like making this decision, it is always bad for me," he said. Gavin Brady ensured his place in semi-final with a race to spare, finishing level with Pace on sixteen wins, but losing the top spot on a tie-break. . Holmberg, who lost his final match to Jesper Radich of Denmark, and Appleton advanced by virtue of a countback over Dean Barker of Team New Zealand who was tied with them at 14 wins but came up short in head to head competition against the pair. Overall Standings (Skipper/Wins/Losses) : Bertrand Pace (NZL) 16 6 Gavin Brady (ITA) 16 6 Cameron Appleton (NZL) 14 8 Magnus Holmberg (SWE) 14 8 Dean Barker (NZL) 14 8 Rod Davis (ITA) 13 9 Chris Dickson (USA) 10 12 Jesper Radich (DEN) 10 12 Andy Green (GBR) 8 14 Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) 7 15 Nicola Celon (ITA) 6 16 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) 4 18 Round Robin two Flight 7 : Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Rod Davis (ITA) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Andy Green (GBR) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Flight 8 : Rod Davis (ITA) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Andy Green (GBR) Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Bertrand Pace (NZ) Flight 9 : Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Andy Green (GBR) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Nicola Celon (ITA) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Dean Barker (NZ) Flight 10 : Andy Green (GBR) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Rod Davis (ITA) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Bertrand Pace (NZ) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Flight 11 : Chris Dickson (USA) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Bjorn Hansen (SWE) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Andy Green (GBR) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Dean Barker (NZ) Flight 12 : Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Rod Davis (ITA) def. Magnus Holmber (SWE) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Flight 13 : Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Andy Green (GBR) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Flight 14 : Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE)

Day 3

Team New Zealand's Bertrand Pace leads the Steinlager Line 7 Cup at the end of the third day, with a total of twelve wins from sixteen starts. The day began with the completion of Round Robin One. Gavin Brady, of the Prada Challenge for the 2003 America's Cup, started the day strong, recording three wins to close out Round Robin One. His strong finish placed him in a tie for first place with Team New Zealand's Bertrand Pace and Cameron Appleton with eight (8) wins entering the second round of racing. In Round Robin Two of the regatta, Bertrand Pace and Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour points leader Magnus Holmberg led all skippers, posting records of four wins and one loss (4-1). By virtue of his strong showing Pace overtook teammate Cameron Appleton (three wins and two losses on the day) to take the overall lead. The remaining races in the second round-robin will be sailed from 10 am today, with the top four qualifying for tomorrow's best-of-three semifinals. Round Robin One Flight 14 : Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Resail Flight Seven Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Resail Flight : Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Round Robin Two Flight 1 : Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Andy Green (GBR) Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Chris Dickson (USA) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Bjorn Hansen (SWE) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Flight 2 : Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Andy Green (GBR) Chris Dickson (USA) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Flight 3 : Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Dean Barker (NZ) Rod Davis (ITA) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Andy Green (GBR) Flight 4 : Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Rod Davis (ITA) def. Andy Green (GBR) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Nicola Celon (ITA) def. Bertrand Pace (NZ) Bjorn Hansen (SWE) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Flight 5 : Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Rod Davis (ITA) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Nicola Celon (ITA) def. Dean Barker (NZ) Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Flight 6 : Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Chris Dickson (USA) def. Andy Green (GBR) Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN)

Day 2

At the end of the second day, Team New Zealand skippers are dominating the Steinlager Line 7 Cup, the fourth event on the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour, on Auckland's Waitemata Harbor. Cameron Appleton and Bertrand Pace head the leaderboard with eight (8) wins a piece in round robin competition with teammate Dean Barker in third place with seven (7) wins. Flight 7 : Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Rod Davis (ITA) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Andy Green (GBR) Flight 8 : Rod Davis (ITA) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Andy Green (GBR) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Bertrand Pace (NZ) Flight 9 : Rod Davis (ITA) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) Andy Green (GBR) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Nicola Celon (ITA) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Bertrand Pace (NZ) Flight 10 : Nicola Celon (ITA) def. Andy Green (GBR) Chris Dickson (USA) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Dean Barker (NZ) Flight 11 : Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Nicola Celon (ITA) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) def. Andy Green (GBR) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Dean Barker (SWE) Flight 12 : Bertrand Pace (NZL) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Chris Dickson (USA) def. Dean Barker (NZ) Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Flight 13 : Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Chris Dickson (USA) Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Andy Green (GBR) Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) Dean Barker (NZ) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE)

Day 1

After a delayed start, six of a hoped-for seven rounds were sailed in a steady 12-knot northerly. With an extra two entries in this year's contest, two crews sat out each round. No skipper emerged unscathed, although Team NZ skipper Dean Barker and fellow team members Bertrand Pace and Cameron Appleton, and Chris Dickson all got through with just one loss. After going down in his first race to Italy-based New Zealander Gavin Brady by 38s, Barker won his next three. "It was good to go racing again," he said. "After all the testing we have been doing it was a nice change." Despite what appeared to be good conditions from the end of Hobson wharf on a course which brought the MRX boats within metres of the spectators, Barker said the conditions were shifty and the currents difficult. "We were a bit rusty, but it was okay. In racing like this there is a huge emphasis on the start and we managed those reasonably well." After beating Rod Davis by a bare 0.3s in his second race, Barker cleared out to down Appleton by more than half-a-minute in his third. It was sweet revenge for Barker who lost to his 22-year-old rival in last year's semifinals. In his final race of the day, Barker outclassed Italian Nicola Celon. Defending champion Pace started slowly with a loss to England's Andy Green and a second-round bye, but bounced back strongly to finish the day with four straight wins to join Dickson and Appleton at the top of the table. Dickson, a three-time winner (the last in 1989), began his day with a win over the hapless Celon - ranked 20th in the world - and made it two by beating world No 12 Bjorn Hansen, before dropping his only race when beaten by 0.5s by world No 3 and Swedish Match Grand Prix leader Magnus Holmberg. "No problems," Dickson said as he stepped ashore. "We survived the first day which is important. We are still there." His clashes with Appleton, Barker and Pace in successive races in the latter rounds today promise plenty. The hoped-for European challenge has been disappointing. Celon, on his first visit, was the only skipper without a win, while Holmberg needed to win his last two to stay in touch. The all-Swedish affair between Holmberg and Hansen was one of the best of the day. Both boats sailed well beyond the bottom mark at the end of the first leg before Holmberg seized the initiative. Organisers hope to sail the remaining eight rounds in the first round-robin from 10 am today. Standing (Wins - Losses) : Bertrand Pace (4 - 1), Chris Dickson (4 - 1), Cameron Appleton (4 - 1), Gavin Brady (4 - 1), Dean Barker (3 - 1), Rod Davis (3 - 2), Jes Gram-Hansen (3 - 2), Magnus Holmberg (3 - 2), Andy Green (2 - 3), Jesper Radich (2 - 3), Bjorn Hansen (1 - 4), Nicola Celon (0 - 5) Flight 1 : Andy Green (GBR) def. Bertrand Pace (NZ) - Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Chris Dickson (USA) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) - Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) - Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Dean Barker (NZ) Flight 2 : Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) - Jesper Radich (DEN) def. Andy Green (GBR) - Chris Dickson (USA) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) - Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) - Dean Barker (NZ) def. Rod Davis (ITA) Flight 3 : Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Chris Dickson (USA) - Dean Barker (NZ) def. Cameron Appleton (NZ) - Rod Davis (ITA) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) - Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) - Andy Green (GBR) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) Flight 4 : Cameron Appleton (NZ) def. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) - Rod Davis (ITA) def. Andy Green (GBR) - Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) - Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) - Bjorn Hansen (SWE) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) Flight 5 : Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Gavin Brady (ITA) - Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) - Rod Davis (ITA) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) - Dean Barker (NZ) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) - Chris Dickson (USA) def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) Flight 6 Gavin Brady (ITA) def. Jesper Radich (DEN) - Bertrand Pace (NZ) def. Rod Davis (ITA) - Magnus Holmberg (SWE) def. Nicola Celon (ITA) - Chris Dickson (USA) def. Andy Green (GBR)