SWITZERLAND, ITALY AND AUSTRALIA IN THE SEMI-FINALS.

by John Roberson on 16 Dec 2000 Murray Jones of the Swiss America's Cup challenge will face Australian Simon Sutherland, in one semi-final of the Fremantle International Match Racing Regatta
on Sunday morning.

The other will be contested between Sebastien Destremau of Australia, and Gavin Brady from Italy's Prada America's Cup challenge.

Jones won the right to select his opponent after finishing at the top of the scoreboard at the end of the elimination rounds, and decided Sutherland was the best
bet.

Racing off Fremantle's famous and historic South Beach was curtailed today when the sea breeze augmented an already gutsy southerly, producing 35 to 40
knots of wind, and short steep seas in the shallow water close to shore.

The Swiss skipper had little trouble in despatching Italy's Luca Antonini to the 'also rans' league in two straight races, the young Italian is sailing his first senior
level international event.

The battle of the day was between Gavin Brady and Chris Dickson, the veteran Dickson taking the first encounter, when Brady accumulated three penalties,
which carries the mandatory black flag disqualification.

Brady hit back, sailing two masterful races in near survival conditions, to first level the score, and then take the match.

With the wind rising, the decision was taken to reduce the other matches to one race, sudden death, contests, in which Sebastien Destremau and Simon
Sutherland beat Ben Dunstan and Xavier Destremau respectively.

RESULTS DAY TWO:

Murray Jones - Switzerland bt Luca Antonini - Italy: 2 - 0
Gavin Brady - Italy bt Chris Dickson - U.S.A: 2 - 1
Sebastien Destremau - Australia bt Ben Dunstan - Australia: 1 - 0
Simon Sutherland - Australia bt Xavier Destremau - Denmark:1 - 0

For further information contact:- John Roberson
Phone: +61 407 476 462
e-mail: robo_bandana@compuserve.com