Great Scott secures third Finn Gold Cup with day to spare

Giles Scott secured his third Finn Gold Cup title ahead of the medal race ©Facebook/2015 Finn Gold Cup

Britain’s Giles Scott earned his third Finn Gold Cup title after two impressive results on the fifth day of the regatta saw his lead become insurmountable ahead of tomorrow’s medal race in Takapuna, New Zealand.

Having held a 52 point advantage over his nearest challenger ahead of the penultimate day of racing, only a disastrous sequence of results in the final three races could see Scott’s lead come under threat, but he sought to make sure of victory in the opening race.

After tackling the changing wind, Scott moved through the field and eventually crossed the finishing line in third place, with France’s Jonathan Lobert claiming the race victory after passing Turkey’s Alican Kaynar in the closing stages.

The result ensured the 2011 and 2014 winner would become only the sixth sailor to claim a hat-trick of victories at the finn class World Championships, while it also maintained his 25-month unbeaten record.

“I am really happy with the way I sailed this week, it's certainly gone to plan,” he said afterwards.

“Winning in the way I have done this week is certainly the best way to win a regatta.

“But it's a very gradual feeling, it doesn't just come as a shock, so trust me I am over the moon to have won my third Finn Gold Cup.

“As a class we are incredibly lucky to have such a historic World Championship with so many great names on the trophy before, so to win it three times is such a huge honour.”

France's Jonathan Lobert won both races on the penultimate day to move into second place ©Facebook/2015 Finn Gold Cup

The Briton continued his excellent form by earning second place in the penultimate race of the regatta to move to 32 points, but it was London 2012 bronze medallist Lobert who proved the star performer of the day as he claimed his second victory, after powering clear of his rivals.

Lobert’s triumphs saw him rise to second in the overall standings on 85 points but he will come under pressure in tomorrow’s double-point medal race, with New Zealand’s Andrew Murdoch and Sweden’s Max Salminen lying on 94 and 99 points respectively.

The Netherlands and Greece have all earned Rio 2016 berths for the finn class after their sailors Pieter-Jan Postma and Ioannis Mitakis secured places in the medal race, while Estonia’s Deniss Karpak also earned his country a spot as he cannot be passed by the fifth placed nation, who are yet to qualify.

Uruguay look set to claim the fourth and final place on offer, with Alejandro Jose Foglia boasting a 25-point lead over Italy’s Giorgio Poggi ahead of the race for the sailors, who have finished outside the top 10 positions.

Remarkably, the 28-year old gold medal winner Scott has never competed at an Olympic Games before, having been previously kept out of the British squad by the presence of Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 finn champion, Sir Ben Ainslie, who has now retired from the Olympic side of the sport.

He has already been named in the British team for Rio, however.