Adecco Maxi OD - Cowes Week Event Day 2

SOUTH AFRICAN PHOENIX EMERGES

From last in the previous race to first today, Geoff Meek's Rainbow Magic from South Africa proved as conclusively as is possible that it is the people who make the difference in the Maxi-One-Design class racing in the Adecco World Championship. In a 50 mile race around the Isle of Wight, Rainbow Magic beat the previous day's winner, Ludde Ingvall's Skandia (EUR) by 46 seconds across the line.

Rainbow Magic led almost all the way from shortly after the start. Ingvall and his crew attacked hard as the fleet beat to windward down the south eastern coast of the Island. Off Ventnor, Skandia momentarily went into the lead after the South African boat had to dip the European's stern when on port tack, but with the advantage of right-of-way going to the South Africans the next time they crossed tacks, the lead was restored.

From there on, Meek and his crew concentrated their efforts to dealing with their rival and were able to establish an increasing lead while Ingvall had to turn his attention to holding off Ross Field in RF Yachting (NZL), who is his major competition in the Adecco World Championship.

'We were perhaps fortunate to get clear at the start,' said Neal McDonald, the mainsheet trimmer of Rainbow Magic, 'It enabled us to make our own decisions and the only time we were troubled was for half an hour by Skandia.'

The eight boats started in a light southerly breeze from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in grey and murky conditions and headed eastwards towards the Spithead forts under spinnakers. Rainbow Magic and Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghimax (SUI) were the first to show from the leeward end of the line with Skandia and Gunnar Krantz' Team Henri-Lloyd (SWE) leading the group nearer to the Island shore.

Contrary to local expectation on board Skandia, the leeward end group benefited and by No Man's Land Fort, Rainbow Magic led marginally from Alinghimax with Skandia, RF Yachting and Team Henri-Lloyd in a tight bunch. By Bembridge Ledge buoy, three and a half miles later, a 30 second gap existed between Rainbow Magic and Alinghimax and there was a minute back to the pursuing group.

The eight boats then settled to a long windward leg against the tide, but to counteract that, the sun began to shine and the breeze increased to around 16 knots. All the crews agreed that this was perfect sailing - 'You won't get better than that,' said Paul Standbridge, crew boss on Rainbow Magic. After rounding St. Catherine's Point, the southernmost tip of the island, the boats fetched on the same tack to Bridge buoy, which kept them clear of the wreck off the Needles.

It was then a run home up the Solent to a finish off the Royal Yacht Squadron line. Once again, Skandia harried Rainbow Magic, but the South African skipper had all the answers and stayed ahead to the finish. RF Yachting was next, but fourth place went to the fast finishing Hans Bouscholte with Synphony (BEL) after overtaking Alinghimax in the last mile.

Finishing order: (Round the Island Race):

1. RSA  Rainbow Magic  Geoff Meek
2. EUR  Skandia  Ludde Ingvall
3. NZL  RF Yachting  Ross Field
4. BEL  Synphony  Hans Bouscholte
5. SUI  Alinghimax  Ernesto Bertarelli
6. SWE  Team Henri-Lloyd  Gunnar Krantz
7. FRA  Le Defi Bouygues Telecom - Transiciel
8. ITA  Seac Banche  Guido Maisto