THERE was disappointment for Finn World Champion and defending title holder Giles Scott, whose title hopes disappeared when a broken rudder pin forced his retirement from Friday’s final fleet race. 

Weymouth-based Scott heads into the medal race in fourth place, and will be fighting it out for the lower podium spots, with New Zealand’s Josh Junior having already secured gold ahead of the medal race.

Scott will wish the Finn fleet had stayed ashore after their first race of the day, as his good luck unravelled rapidly in the second race.

Having won the first race of the day to eke out a gap over New Zealand’s Junior, Scott was in a comfortable position over his Kiwi rival in the second race of the day when his rudder pin broke after the first lap, forcing him out of the race and out of gold medal position.

"Josh went on the aggressive in the pre-start and we had one recall,” recounted Scott of the second race.

"I kind of felt I did a good job with him and in both starts I managed to come off the line ahead and had the option to tack off.

"In the second start that's what I did and sailed clear, and by the gate Josh was about tenth and I was in second or third and as I rounded up my rudder pin snapped.

"It is a bit annoying but these things happen and its better it happens now than in a few months’ time.

"The bit that broke was a three-month old fitting and is something that I check regularly. 

"It didn't have any wear and it just decided today it was going to break, so I'll need to work on the boat tonight to be able to sail tomorrow.

"The event is lost and I suppose that's the way it is but it's always a frustrating way to lose a regatta that way.

"We'll go away and look at it to make sure it doesn't happen again. It's certainly something you'd kick yourself even more if it happened again.”

In spite of having to count a hefty 45 points from an earlier race, Scott still remains in the mix for the podium spots in fourth overall and ten points from silver. 

But the 28-year-old is pragmatic about his regatta and his overall progress towards Rio.

“We have been experimenting quite a lot this week and are pretty happy with what we've been doing. [My coach] Matt and I still think we are in a very strong position.”

Medal racing is scheduled to start from 11am today. 

Full event results can be found at www.trofeoprincesasofia.org.