BRITISH BARLO PLASTICS IC 45 CLAIM VICTORY AT FIRST REGATTA OF SEASON

by Susan Warden-Owen on 29 Jan 2001 With early morning rain squalls bringing vicious shifting winds across the
bay in Palma, the race committee wisely decided to keep the fleet ashore
until the weather had settled on the final day of this first regatta in the
Clean Marine Winter Series. By early afternoon conditions were down to a
more reasonable 18-22 knots and the sun had returned. With time for just one
more race Barlo Plastics' performance on the two previous days was enough to
ensure the big-boat, already selected for this summer's Barlo Plastics
British Admiral's Cup Team, could not be beaten.

With the event already secured, skipper Adrian Stead dictated a safe and
steady course, keeping out of trouble and protecting the boat and equipment
from damage in the confused seas left over from the morning's squalls and
previous two days' strong winds. 'We were fifth at the windward mark, got
back up to third on the run but fell back one place before the finish,' said
Stead, completely unconcerned at scoring his worst result of the regatta.

More significantly, Stead was delighted to have won his first event, against
boats of known speed. 'It was a good regatta to get back into the swing of
things and remember what sailing the IC45's is all about', he said, adding,
'it proves the need to keep working on the boat handling and sail-trim.'

Sailing with the nucleus of the crew that will contest the Admiral's Cup
aboard Barlo Plastics, Stead was already looking to improve things before
the next event. 'We have learned a few things about the boat and we have a
few changes to make before the next regatta in three weeks time.'

While few if any of the boats that Barlo Plastics has been competing against
this weekend will be sailing in the Admiral's Cup, the fact that the British
Team boat has come out of the blocks so fast can only bode well for the main
event in July.


Results:
1. Barlo Plastics, Robert Condon, GBR 9 pts
2. Babbalaas, David McLean, GBR 16pts
3. La Casera, Eugenio Jaudenes, ESP 19pts
4. SEB, SWE
5. Faster K-Yote : FRA
6. Bounder, GBR
7. Aïfos, ESP


Barlo Plastics IC 45 Crew List, 26th - 28th January:
Bow Mark Sheffield
Mast Brendan Darrer
Pit Kelvin Rawlings
Trimmer Richard Faulkner
Trimmer Hugh Styles
Cockpit Steve Dawson
Navigator Julian Salter
Main Andy Beadsworth
Helm Ian Walker
Tactician Adrian Stead

Barlo Plastics IC 45 Sailing Programme 2001:
January 26th - 28th Clean Marine IC 45 Winter Series, Palma Majorca
February 16th - 18th Clean Marine IC 45 Winter Series, Palma Majorca
March 9th - 11th Clean Marine IC 45 Winter Series, Palma Majorca
March 30th - April 1st Cassis Cup, South of France

Additional practise sailing and racing will take place during April, May,
June and July 2001 in the Solent, United Kingdom. Dates to be advised.

'Barlo Plastics' IC 45 will be one of three boats in the Barlo Plastics
British Admiral's Cup Team 2001. Each international team competing in the
Admiral's Cup must include one boat from three specified classes namely, the
IC 45 'big boat', the Sydney 40 and the Farr 40 class. The event will be
held between Monday 16th July and Saturday 28th July 2001 at Cowes on the
Isle of Wight and is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, in
association with the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Barlo Plastics is an operating company of the Irish Barlo Group plc, a
European leader in plastic products and radiators, which is listed on the
London and Dublin stock exchanges. Barlo Plastics is Europe's leading
independent producer of transparent plastic sheets, with in excess of 15% of
the total European market. Barlo Plastics' growth has been achieved through
a combination of acquisitions and organic development. It operates from
modern facilities in Belgium, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic and France.
The company offers a wider product range than any competitor, providing
solutions for almost every need where transparent or translucent sheet is
required.