Hobday and Louis prosper
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Your support makes all the difference.The smaller classes yesterday saw their racing cancelled again in Cowes Week, and now must be wondering what they have done to deserve only one day's sailing in five.
The weather just will not co-operate and the prospects for the remainder of the week are less than hopeful. Nothing, however, could take the shine off the smiles of Tim Louis and Kit Hobday, the winners of the Britannia Cup, one of the most coveted prizes.
Their new, John Corby- designed 41-footer, Independent Bear, had nearly an 11-minute margin over Philip Tolhurst in Warlord, one of the new Farr 40s. Stephen Bailey's BH41 Arbitrator finished third.
The big boats simply could not save their time in the light conditions on the eastern Solent course. From the wrangling after the last pair of Admiral's Cup races in Christchurch Bay, Pinta, the German team's 40- footer, was penalised 1.25 points over an incident involving Britain's 45-footer, Corum Indulgence.
That moved them from second place, three-eighths of a point ahead of the New Zealanders, to third, five-eighths of a point behind. The American Mumm 36, Jameson, was forbidden further use of a new mainsail, introduced after the time limit, but her results stand.
Today the seven national three-boat teams in the Admiral's Cup face a short offshore course, which may not be off-shore at all but a circumnavigation of the east end of the Isle of Wight.
Expected to race on the same course, if there is enough breeze to tempt them, are the Maxis and four Whitbread 60s - Merit Cup, Silk Cut, Kvaerner Innovation and Brunel Sunergy - who are warming up for the Fastnet Race on Saturday. The final two races account for more than one third of points. There is much to play for.
Last night the Royal Ocean Racing Club came under criticism at the first of what may be many meetings to discuss the future format of the Cup.
The main conflict is between those who want costs to be reduced to allow more competing nations and those who want to maintain grand prix standards and exclusivity.
The high-cost 40-footers are accused of being the problem. However, they point out that the Admiral's Cup costs 45 per cent of their annual budget.
CHAMPAGNE MUMM ADMIRAL'S CUP revised standings after seven races: 1 United States 90pts; 2 New Zealand 105.63; 3 Germany 106.5; 4 Australia 115.63; =5 Great Britain, Italy, 117.5; 7 Scandinavia 174.
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