New Zealand Millennium Cup Superyacht Regatta - Overall
by Keith Taylor 13 Feb 2003 08:45 GMT
HIGH PERFORMANCE CRUISERS PREVAIL
IN NEW ZEALAND'S MILLENNIUM CUP REGATTA
Reflecting the interest of America's Cup crews in the international
rendezvous, afterguard members from Italy's Prada Syndicate, were at the
helms of both winners. Prada Tactician Torben Grael steered the 112-foot
Brazilian sloop Ipanema to victory in Division I. Prada alternate
helmsman Gavin Brady had the wheel on the Dutch 80-foot sloop Innovision
which topped Division II.
The fleet had anchored overnight at Kawau Island for two major social
events, an owners and sponsors banquet under marquees at Mansion House
and a crew party under a gigantic big top at nearby Pah Farm. The long
narrow confines of Bon Accord Harbor was jammed with anchored boats.
After dusk the deck lights, spreader lights and other lighting features
on the superyachts gave the appearance of a small city. The normally
quiet anchorage emptied quickly this morning as the fleet prepared to
race again.
It's said that gentlemen never sail to windward, and the men and women
of the Millennium Cup regatta proved it today with a fast spinnaker
reach and run, sailed under grey, threatening skies. Yesterday, they had
raced to Kawau under spinnakers before a brisk southerly breeze.
Launched only three weeks ago from Auckland's McMullen and Wing
shipyard, the sophisticated cruiser Ipanema, built in high strength
Alustar aluminium and designed by German Frers Sr, featured a veritable
who's who of Brazilian yachting. Brazilian owner Antonio Dias Leite was
joined by Frers, Lars Grael and Rodney Keenan Minister of Sport for
Brazil.
Innovision, also designed by Frers is a two-year-old 80-foot Nautor
Swan, with a carbonfibre rig, owned and sailed by Dutchman Hans Eekhol.
Sailing with the smaller and lower rating boats in handicap Division II,
she scored triple bullets, winning starts and winning on elapsed and
corrected time as she finished each day with the leading boats in
Division I.
The fastest boat in Division I was Kiwi Neville Crichton's
water-ballasted maxi-racer Alfa Romeo which each day quickly left her
bigger and more fully-appointed cruiser sisters in her wake. Although
she was the corrected time winner yesterday, a blown spinnaker cost her
precious minutes today and with it any chance of first place today or
overall. She placed second overall in the division.
More Information: