| MIAMI, FL. USA-(11-3-2004) With the best wind of the last four days, the British team of Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell finished in first place redeeming themselves from a first day race disqualification for an early start. The former World champions took an early lead and held it through the finish line.
“We tacked across the fleet and managed to get ahead and stay ahead. Normally the easiest race is when you get in front, but that wasn’t the case today,” said Percy. “The fleet kept closing the gaps, but we were able to pull ahead at the end.”
Yesterday’s first place finishers, the Portuguese team of Afonso Domingos and Bernardo Santos, took second place and maintain their first position overall.
“We stayed left today and had a good downwind after the second mark Our boat speed was not very good at the end, but we held the rest of the fleet off,” said Domingos. The conditions were shifty, but the Skipper admitted he likes the challenge. His best Bacardi Cup finish was eighth in 2002. Australian World champions Colin Beashel and crew David Giles finished in third place and are currently fourth overall.
Former Olympians Mark Reynolds and crew Steve Erickson made a comeback today with a fourth place finish. Reynolds is in a two-way tie with Ding Schoomaker of Naples for seven Bacardi Cup wins.
“It was the shiftiest, toughest day yet. The wind favored the right and the first 100 yards were really critical,” said Skipper Howie Shiebler of San Francisco. “The leaders today came out of the right.” He and his crew Will Stout move finished in eighth place today and move into third place overall.
“We started about a third down the line while most of the leaders came from the left side of the course,” said Canadian Ross Macdonald. “Everyone’s biggest fear today was would the wind die, but it just hung in there,” he said.
Californians George Szabo and Mark Staube finished 33rd today after a third place finish yesterday. “We went the wrong wall all day and hit a lot of holes, “ said Szabo.
Many of the sailing elite who were expected to lead in the Bacardi Cup are having a difficult time with the shifty winds on Biscayne Bay. French 2003 World champions Xavier Rohart and crew Pascal Rambeau, are in 15th overall after a 19th place finish today.
Swedish World champion Freddy Loof and crew Anders Ekstrom and five-time Bacardi Cup champion Vince Brun and his crew Mike Dorgan were among four boats that did not start in today’s race. Skipper Paul Cayard, a former Whitbread Round the World Race winner and participant in five America’s Cups is bowing out of the race after a 12 place finish today to go home and visit his family before the U.S. Olympic trials.
The Bacardi Cup continues through Friday, March 12.
2004 BACARDI CUP DAY FOUR RESULTS – Top 10
1. Iain Percy/Steve Mitchell (UK)
2. Afonso Domingos/Bernardo Santos (Portugal)
3. Colin Beashel/David Giles (Australia)
4. Mark Reynolds/Steve Erickson (USA)
5. Ross Macdonald/Mike Wolfs (Canada)
6. Eric Doyle/Brian Sharp (USA)
7. Michael Koch/Markus Koy (Germany)
8. Howie Shiebler/Will Stout (USA)
9. Rick Merriman/Bill Bennett (USA)
10. Andy Macdonald/Austin Sperry (USA)
2004 BACARDI CUP OVERALL DAY FOUR – Top 10
Skipper/Crew (Country)/finishes of each race and total points
1. Afonso Domingos/Bernardo Santos (Portugal), 7-7-1-2,17
2. Ross Macdonald/Mike Wolfs (Canada),3-13-5-5,26
3. Howie Shiebler/Will Stout (USA), 26-5-4-8,43
4. Colin Beashel/David Giles (Australia),15-10-16-3,44
5. Peter Bromby/Lee White (Bermuda),18-1-13-17,49
6. Flavio Marazzi/Enrico De Maria (Switzerland),9-4-24-22,59
7. Michael Koch/Markus Koy (Germany),11-19-35-7,72
8. Andy Macdonald/Austin Sperry (USA),19-20-28-10,77
9. Jali Makila/Erkki Heinonen (Finland),29-17-18-13,77
10. Hans Spitzauer/Andreas Hanakamp (Austria),8-51-2-20,81
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