Due to poor winds in the third day of the Nations Cup regatta the Yacht Club Adriaco managed to hold only five of the Round Robin regattas.

The New Zealand champion Russell Coutts had two successes in the same number of regattas to the loss of Paolo Cian and his Italian Challenger. They were gripping and fiercely fought regattas in which the Neapolitan helmsman caused problems more than once for the outstanding holder of the America's Cup.

Today saw a double race, with a victory each , also between Toscana Challenge (Roberto Ferrarese) and Mascalzone Latino (Vasco Vascotto at the helm today), while in the contest between Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand, victory went to the Kiwis who finished the regatta with an advantage of 20 seconds.

The provisional placings show Team Russell Coutts in the lead, still unbeaten with 5 victories in the same number of regattas contested, Luna Rossa follows with five victories out of seven races, Italian Challegner is next with four victories out of eight, Team New Zealand has three victories out of five, Mascalzone Latino has two victories out of five and at the bottom we have Toscan Challenge with only one victory out of six races.

"A win at last", said Roberto Ferrarese at the end of the regattas, "after the bad luck we had against Coutts where we failed to win by only half a stern, and against Spithill (Luna Rossa). We raced very well in the first contest and in this very entertaining event there is room for many races in an evocative setting. Speaking of the future, I had a coversation today with Gualtiero Pantani (Toscana Challenge's owner) who is collecting the necessary finance to enrol for the next America Cup and the prospects are very good."

The last qualification rounds (Round Robin) will begin at midday tomorrow, the semi finals will be held Saturday and the final will be held on Sunday morning.