After a breezy and cold final lap around the two-lap course, all entries have finished, the results are in, and a new leader has emerged (maybe) after four races completed in the 2011 ORCi European Championship, hosted by the Royal Norwegian YC (KNS).

In Division 1, Peter Ortendahl’s IMX 40 Gertrud from Sweden helmed by Lena Having extended their lead after the first lap, with Norwegian sistership Jan Henrik Bryde’s Xanthippe in second place by 11 min 29 sec in corrected time, and Peter Suselbeck’s First 40 Westwind from Germany dropping back to third place by just another 28 sec.

First-to-finish the race was Tore Kandahl’s Landmark 43 Destin, completing the 123-mile course in 17:05:33, just 1 min 29 sec ahead of John Langø’s Swan 42 Lusso Lupa.

However, neither corrected to good results in this race, as the building breeze has favored the smaller boats in each division. And even though the series leader, Peter Schmidt’s Evento 42 Silva Hispaniola, is a big boat and thus had their worst finish so far in the series with a 4th place result, they retain their lead by 3.25 points over current runner-up Xanthippe.

In Division 2, the race remained very close, with Norwegian Eirik Brekke’s X-382 Mk 2 Felicity IV surpassing first lap leader Kai Haupthoff’s X-332 Sport Varuna Express from Germany by 1 min 42 sec in corrected time. Another 4 min and 1 sec behind in corrected time and taking the last place on the podium was Patrik Forsgren’s modified Beneteau First 36.7 Team SWE 88, who on the strength of the 1.75 points-weighing given this race has emerged as the new leader in Division 2 after four races scored thusfar in the series.

Maybe. Later today at 1600 local time a protest hearing will be convened by the international jury chaired by Eva Andersson to determine the merits of a redress request for 1 minute in elapsed time sought by Ludvig Daae’s Ille Moro for an alleged improper movement of the finishing vessel in the pre-dawn hours of this morning. If Daae prevails in his request, Ille Moro’s 7th place in the race would change to 6th, and they would earn enough points back to overcome the 1 point lead now held by Team SWE 88.

Current top-five standings after 4 races:

Division 1
1. Silva Hispaniola    9.25 points
2. Xanthippe        12.50
3. Westwind        14.25
4. Gertrud            19.31
5. Saillogic Racing  27.75

Division 2
1. Team SWE 88  18.00 points
2. Ille Moro          19.00
3. Xtreme            20.75
4. Chinook           21.00
5. Feelgood         24.25

Photos: Peter Gustavsen - Blur.se