ATLANTIS, BAHAMAS-(13-11-2002) In a straightforward race
that rewarded speed off the starting line, Canada's Terry McLaughlin
(Toronto) sailed Defiant to victory in today's opening race at the Rolex
Farr 40 World Championships, sailed off Paradise Island, Bahamas, and
headquartered at Atlantis Resort. McLaughlin led the intense 25-boat fleet
by 20 seconds at the first windward mark and was still holding the same
lead after two laps around an eight-mile course. A second race seemed to
be going Defiant's way again, with McLaughlin leading at the first two
marks, until a rainstorm packing 20-knot breezes rolled in like a freight
train to disrupt his performance.
`We weren't really set up for it,` said McLaughlin, Canada's current Rolex
Yachtsman of the Year, `and we lost two boats in it and another on the last
leg, but I'll take the fourth we ended up with.` In driving rain, the
fleet sailed on its ear to a windward mark that could barely, if at all, be
seen. The last downwind leg of the course was exhilirating for many,
disastrous for others, as huge waves created surfable, sometimes
broachable, conditions. Two boats shredded spinnakers.
Atop the leaderboard, McLaughlin has two points over Nerone, skippered by
Rome, Italy's Antonio Sodo Migliori. Nerone, the current Farr 40 European
Champion, won today's second race and this past weekend's MeesPierson
Bahamian Championship, in which Defiant finished second. Also in the top
five after today are Italy's two other teams: Bottadiculo, skippered by
Giovanni Arrivabene (in third) and Breeze, skippered by recently eliminated
America's hopeful Vincenzo Onorato (fifth). Barking Mad, with Jim
Richardson of Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I., steering, stands in fourth.
`I am very happy with today,` said Arrivabene. `I just bought the boat
last August and we first sailed it only five days ago, so I am new to the
Farr 40 class.`
Up to four of the typical nine-man Farr 40 crew are allowed to be
classified other than Group 1 amateur, while the owners strictly must be
amateurs and are the only ones permitted to drive. This combination of
class rules has cultivated a tight knit group of owner/drivers who are
second to none in ability and a vast pool of talented sailors -- both
amateur and professional -- clambering for crew positions.
Great Britain's 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Iain Percy, who is sailing
aboard Katanga, skippered by fellow countryman Robin Patterson, said,
`considering that the America's Cup is going on, it's an amazing collection
here of owners, skippers, tacticians and crews. There are as big of names
here, with Cayard, Kostecki and the rest--as down in New Zealand.`
Paul Cayard (San Francisco, Calif.), a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year who is
taking a break from Cup action to sail with Philippe Kahn (Honolulu,
Hawaii) aboard Pegasus, was bruised in the ribs during a jibe in today's
storm. Pegasus also had bad luck at the start of today's second race,
nicking Bottadiculo's stern early in the race for a penalty of a 360 degree
turn.
John Kostecki, another America's Cup veteran and Volvo Ocean Race winner
from San Francisco, sailed with John Kilroy (Los Angeles) aboard Samba Pa
Ti to a seventh overall today. Kilroy is a Farr 40 World Champion from
1999 and this year's Farr 40 National Champion.
Today was officially Lewmar Race Day. The event is hosted by the Storm
Trysail Club. Full results can be found at www.farr40.org
Results
1. DEFIANT Terry McLaughlin Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 1-4, 5
2. NERONE Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Migliori, Rome, ITALY, 6-1, 7
3. BOTTADICULO Giovanni Arrivabene/Andrea Bocchini, Massarosa, ITALY, 2-10,
12
4. BARKING MAD Jim Richardson Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I. USA, 13-3, 16
5. BREEZE, Vincenzo Onorato Naples, ITALY, 5-11, 16
6. VIRAGO Stuart Townsend Chicago, Ill., USA, 4-13, 17
7. SAMBA PA TI John Kilroy Los Angeles, Calif., USA, 12-5, 17
8. LE RENARD Steve Phillips Arnold, Md., USA, 17-2, 19
9. CROCODILE ROCK Alexandra Geremia/Scott Harris Santa Barbara, Calif.,
USA, 11-9, 20
10. GROOVEDERCI Deneen/John Demourkas Montecito, Calif., USA, 8-14, 22
11. ASSEGAI Leonidas Christeanakis/Chris Hunt London, ENGLAND, 7-16, 23
12. NORWEGIAN STEAM Eivind Astrup Oslo, NORWAY, 3-22, 25
13. PEGASUS Philippe Kahn Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 19-8, 27
14. BAMBAKOU John Coumantaros New York, N.Y., USA, 10-17, 27
15. GONE TOO FARR Dave Carrel Belvedere, Calif., USA, 15-12, 27
16. MORNING GLORY Hasso Plattner GERMANY/San Francisco, Calif., 22-6, 28
17. NITEMARE Tom Neill Berkeley, Ill., USA, 21-7, 28
18. JOSS Owen Kratz League City, Texas, USA, 19-20, 29
19. EMOTIONAL HOOLIGAN Marcus Blackmore Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 14-19, 33
20. KOKOMO Lang Walker Potts Point, AUSTRALIA, 18-15, 33
21. SOLUTION John Thomson Port Washington, N.Y., USA , 16-18, 34
22. FLASH GORDON Helmut Jahn Chicago, Ill., USA, 20-25, 45
23. SLED Takashi Okura Tokyo, JAPANm 24-21, 45
24. KATANGA Robin Patterson London, ENGLAND, 23-23, 46
25. HONOUR Alek Krstajic Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 25-24, 49
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