Johnie Berntsson (9-1), ranked No. 14 in the world coming in, leaped to the top of the leader board Wednesday by winning all five of his matches, extending his win streak to eight in a row. He beat second-place Mathieu Richard (8-2) in his first match and third-place Simon Minoprio of New Zealand (7.75-2), the first-day leader, in his second race and never looked back.

 

"We had some aggressive starts but only when it was the right thing to do," Berntsson said---like when he forced Richard over the line and into a foul that settled that outcome right away.

 

Richard said, "Johnie made a good start and I made a mistake, but in the other matches we sailed very well."

 

Berntsson said, "On the track there were some really tight matches. We have some more work to do on our speed."

 

Scott Dickson, the local hope who rolled into fourth place at 6-4, took note of Berntsson's big day. He'll sail the same boat Thursday.

 

The Catalina 37s are generally rated equal, but Dickson said, "We're pretty happy to be behind Johnie in the boat rotation."

 

Winds started at 6 knots from south building to 12 from southwest as an early marine layer surrendered to sunshine on a typical Long Beach spring day.

 

Minoprio's odd score reflects the quarter-point deduction he took Tuesday for an equipment use infraction in his win over Dickson. It may not have seemed like much at first, but now it's the difference between third place and a share of second. Is he concerned?

 

"It is what it is," he said with a shrug.

 

He was 3-2 Tuesday, losing to Berntsson when he had to re-start after an unforced early start and later to Richard, who blocked his way to the starting line with a solid luff.

 

"Whenever we got off the line we sailed smart and fast,"
Minoprio said.

 

Racing continues Thursday at 11:30 a.m., conditions permitting.

 

The total purse will be $41,000, including $10,000 to the winner.

 

Spectators have free seating for the racing on Belmont Pier, site of the start and finish lines. Food and beverages are available in a new patio setting.  Veteran local sailor Steve Steiner, a former Con Cup competitor, offers expert commentary.

 

Video highlights produced by t2p.tv are available nightly on the event website http://www.lbyc.org/concup/

 

The event is managed by about 300 LBYC volunteers, including hostess teams for each crew. The competitors, six to a crew, rotate 10 Catalina 37s. Each team will race every other team twice. The six that fail to reach Saturday's semifinals will sail a 10-mile fleet race on the final championship day.

 

Results and standings 

ROUND 6

 

Scott Dickson, Long Beach, def. Andrew Arbuzov, Russia, 1:13; Simon Minoprio, New Zealand, def. Brian Angel, Redondo Beach, Calif., 0:10; Martin Angsell, Sweden, d. Damien Iehl,  France, 0:23; Johnie Berntsson, Sweden, d. Mathieu Richard, France, 0:33; Eugeniy Neugodnikov, Russia, d. Przemek Tarnacki, Poland, 0:42.

 

ROUND 7

 

Richard d. Iehl, 0:49; Neugodnikov d. Dickson, 0:20; Angel d. Tarnacki, 1:25; Arbuzov d. Angsell, 0:02; Berntsson d. Minoprio, 0:44.

 

ROUND 8

 

Dickson d. Angel, 0:09; Tarnacki d. Angsell, 0:19; Berntsson d. Arbuzov, 1:55; Neugodnikov d. Iehl, 0:05; Richard d. Minoprio, 0:38.

 

ROUND 9

 

Dickson d. Tarnacki, 0:22; Angel d. Arbuzov 0:35; Minoprio d. Angsell, 0:40; Berntsson d. Iehl, 1:12; Richard d. Neugodnikov, 0:30.

 

ROUND 10

 

Berntsson d. Tarnacki, 0:43; Angel d. Neugodnikov, 0:30; Minoprio d. Iehl, 0:13; Richard d. Arbuzov, 0:28; Dickson d. Angsell, 0:26.

 

STANDINGS (after 10 of 18 rounds): Berntsson, 9-1; Richard, 8-2; Minoprio, 7.75-2; Dickson, 6-4; Angel and Neugodnikov, 5-5; Iehl and. Arbuzov, 3-7; Tarnacki, 2-8; Angsell, 1-9.