Porto Cervo, 9th September 1999

Day four

ROUND UP

Today is the lay day.
The final results have been published from yesterday's offshore race.
Some crews are repairing damage from groundings in yesterday's tight race.
Tonight is the Gala Rolex Dinner for Owners and VIPS at the Pevero Golf Club.
Tomorrow the fleet will sail another inshore race.

REFLECTING ON NEAR MISSES - OR NOT

With the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup fleet all in the harbour shortly before nine o'clock last night, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda could score the handicap results. While the crews reflected on where it was won and lost. Amidst the clinking glasses and happy chatter of the Clipper Bar, Boomerang's navigator, Steve Hayles, grimaced when he recalled the crux point of yesterday's race. 'It was a nightmare out there for the navigators. Especially coming into the Ecueil de Lavezzi, with Sayonara right behind us. We needed to know how close we could go, to within half a boat length. I've never been round it with a four metre draft before, and the chart doesn't give you enough precision. But if we let them cut inside us, and they got through safely, they had the race.' Hayles admits to feeling the pressure of racing in these exotic - and expensive - machines. But Boomerang judged the corner perfectly, and sailed to an ILC Maxi and an IMS Division win. George Coumantaros' big white boat has now stolen the leadership of both classes overall, dropping Larry Ellison's Sayonara to second.

Two years ago, it was different. Boomerang clipped one of the ragged edges of the Costa Smeralda. The impact hurled the crew off their feet, injuring both the owner and crewman, Alby Pratt. And this year, shortly after Boomerang and Sayonara cleared the mark, My Song rounded the Ecueil de Lavezzi. Navigator Phil Wardrup was under less immediate competitive pressure, and perhaps more cautious with Pier Luigi Loro Piana's new boat. They rounded one hundred and fifty metres outside, where the chart said it was completely safe - and My Song went aground. Sometimes, as Sayonara's Sailing Master, Chris Dickson, commented earlier in the week, 'it's more important to be lucky, than good'. Closer to Porto Cervo, Highland Fling suffered the same fate - both crews will have the epoxy and filler out today. But the damage didn't prevent Highland Fling from holding her third place overall in the IMS fleet.

In the Cruising Division, things were only a little less fraught. Peter Bateman, tactician aboard Wally B, told how Tiketitan finally got past them to take line honours, by cutting inside at the final rounding - the Isola Mortoriotto. 'We're a little deeper draft,' said Bateman, 'and I think they knew we wouldn't take the risk - that's Luca's rock.' he added with a wry smile, referring to Tiketitan's owner and helmsman - and Wally Yacht's guiding light - Luca Bassani.

But it was Steve McLaren's stunning forty one metre classic, Alejandra, that took the handicap prize away from the Wally Yachts for the first time. But the Wally's are still top three overall - Roberto Vacchi's Genie of the Lamp added a second to her fourth and fifth, to take the overall leadership away from Lindsey Owen-Jones' Magic Carpet. While race one winner, Marco Tronchetti Provera's Kauris II, splits them in second in the standings.

Tonight is the Gala Rolex Dinner at the exclusive Pevero Golf Club, whose course nestles in the beautifully landscaped hills between Pevero Bay and the Hotel Cala di Volpe. Amongst the guests will be many of the owners and skippers, including Whitbread winner, Paul Cayard. The evening will be guested by Patrick Heiniger, President of Montres Rolex SA. Tomorrow, the Cruising Division is anticipated to sail another inshore race around the islands, while the ILC Maxis and IMS Division will return to the windward/leeward courses. That, at least, should cause a grateful sigh of relief from the navigators.
Written by Mark Chisnell, for The Strategic Organisation