With northerly winds blowing up to 20 knots, the quarterfinalists are nearly set at Stage 1 of the Swedish Match Tour 2004-’05.

Group B completed its five flight round robin this morning, with crews led by skippers Russell Coutts (NZL), Bertrand Pacé (FRA) and Peter Holmberg (USVI) advancing to the quarters by placing 1-2-3.

Coutts won the group with a 5-0 mark, followed by Pacé at 4-1 and Holmberg at 3-2.

They joined Ed Baird (USA), Peter Gilmour (AUS) and Jesper Radich (DEN) in the quarterfinals of the inaugural Portugal Match Cup. The Group A skippers advanced after yesterday’s racing.

All that’s left to decide is the two remaining quarterfinalists, which will be determined from the five flight repechage round that was suspended this evening after two and two-thirds flights.

REPECHAGE ROUND DAY 1

Flight 1 : Geoff Meek (RSA) def. Francisco Neto (POR) - Philippe Presti (FRA) def. Michael Dunstan (AUS) - Staffan Lindberg (FIN) def. Chris Law (GBR)

Flight 2 : Michael Dunstan (AUS) def. Geoff Meek (RSA) - Chris Law (GBR) def. Francisco Neto (POR) - Staffan Lindberg def. Philippe Presti (FRA)

Flight 3 : Francisco Neto (POR) def. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) - Philippe Presti (FRA) def. Geoff Meek (RSA) - Chris Law (GBR) def. Michael Dunstan (AUS)

GROUP B STANDINGS (after 5/5 flights)

1. Russell Coutts (NZL), 5-0
2. Bertrand Pacé (FRA, BMW Oracle Racing), 4-1
3. Peter Holmberg (USVI, Team Alinghi), 3-2
4. Chris Law (GBR), 1-4
5. Staffan Lindberg (FIN), 1-4
6. Francisco Neto (POR), 1-4

GROUP B RESULTS

Flight 1 : Bertrand Pacé (FRA) def. Francisco Neto (POR) - Peter Holmberg (USVI) def. Chris Law (GBR) - Russell Coutts (NZL) def. Staffan Lindberg (FIN)

Flight 2 : Francisco Neto (POR) def. Chris Law (GBR) - Russell Coutts (NZL) def. Peter Holmberg (USVI) - Bertrand Pacé (FRA) def. Staffan Lindberg (FIN)

Flight 3 : Russell Coutts (NZL) def. Chris Law (GBR) - Bertrand Pacé (FRA) def. Peter Holmberg (USVI) - Staffan Lindberg (FIN) def. Francisco Neto (POR)

Flight 4: Peter Holmberg (USVI) def. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) - Russell Coutts (NZL) def. Francisco Neto (POR) - Bertrand Pacé (FRA) def. Chris Law (GBR)

Flight 5 : Peter Holmberg (USVI) def. Francisco Neto (POR) - Chris Law (GBR) def. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) - Russell Coutts (NZL) def. Bertrand Pacé (FRA)