Team SW1 Capital win thrilling sprint race, Seagull Chaudron fourth

In arguably the most exciting race of the season so far, it was Team SW1 Capital that took the chequered flag in yesterday's sprint race in the SuperSport class in Gothenburg.

Championship leaders Seagull Chaudron (Ukrainian Spirit), of Aaron Ciantar, Angelo Tedeschi and Viktor Shemchuk, failed to gain a podium place after finishing fourth.

The trials and tribulations encountered in the aftermath of San Benedetto del Tronto ultimately paid dividends as Team SW1 Capital romped to victory 26 seconds ahead of surprise package Spirit of Belgium and PowerPole sitters Baia Attolini.

Team principal and pilot Dan Cramphorn was understandably delighted with the result.

"It's a great feeling after all the team's efforts this season," he said. "After Italy we were all a bit low. It is very positive to be finishing the season in good form even though we cannot take the title.

"SuperSport is such a competitive class - but if we can continue this into 2010 then I am in no doubt that we can mount a championship challenge."

Despite a solid start to the race, Baia Attolini eventually surrendered the lead to the British team following a nail-biting battle for supremacy on the start/finish line at the beginning of the third lap of the 10-lap race.

The Spirit of Belgium team of Micha Robyn, Patrick Huybreghts and Marc Sluszny produced one of the most memorable performances of the season to register their best position in 2009.

An electric start from the Belgian outfit saw them overhaul Seagull Chaudron on the start lap into third place before surpassing Baia Attolini on the south-west end of the course on the ninth lap of the 44.75 nautical mile course.

Title rivals Baia Attolini and Seagull Chaudron were involved in a sensational race for the third and final podium spot - the former edging out the defending champions by half a boat length to close the gap at the top of the overall SuperSport standings.

Big Sergio finished in an encouraging fifth place ahead of Scandinavian wild card entry Goldfish and Team Al and Al rival Blue Shaft.

A broken drive train component prevented Shelley Jory and Audrienne Ciantar's Iko Casa hull from making the start line.

Evolution class

In the Evolution category, SNAV OSG, piloted by Hannes Bohinc and Giancarlo Cangiano, secured its fourth win of the season in yesterday's closely fought sprint race.

Bohinc and Cangiano had trailed the US entry, Lucas Oil Outerlimit, driven by Joe Sgro and Nigel Hook, for two thirds of the race, but they made the decisive move with just three laps remaining.

The Cigarette Smash Poker, of Luca Fendi and Matteo Nicolini, crossed the line in second place with Lucas Oils Outerlimits third.

Championship leaders, Silverline, piloted by Drew Langdon and Jan Falkowski, finished one lap down in fourth place.