Marcelo_Rhenius_Regattapix
By Kate Laven Published: 8:40PM GMT 20 Jan 2010 - Telegraph.co.uk
Iain Percy's hopes for a day off with the 2010 Star World Championship title under his belt were foiled by a thrilling challenge from Swiss rival Flavio Marazzi who did just enough to stay in contention for the championship crown.
Iain Percy's hopes for a day off with the 2010 Star World Championship title under his belt were foiled by a thrilling challenge from Swiss rival Flavio Marazzi who did just enough to stay in contention for the championship crown.
Percy and Andrew Simpson, reigning Olympic Star champions, needed to finish the fifth race in Rio de Janeiro 12 points clear of the Swiss to make sure of the world title with a day to spare.
But in the closest race of the regatta so far, battling with light winds and a 90 degree heat they crossed the finish line in fourth to Marazzi’s sixth to keep things wide open and force the contest into a sixth and dramatic final race.
Sport on television A win in five days would have been a remarkable result for Percy, who is currently 20th in the world Star rankings having spent just 25 days in the last 12 months competing in the class owing to his Team Origin commitments with Ben Ainslie.
With another light airs day in prospect, the British pair will need to finish seven points ahead of Marazzi and crew Enrico De Maria today to make certain of their first world champions crown since 2002.
Yesterdays race footage - vicentebar
