Beashel and Giles Lead Bacardi Cup Star Class regatta

by Steve Schwadron on 8 Mar 2001 Second-Place Finish by Australia’s Colin Beashel and David Giles Catapults Duo to Overall Lead; Olympic Champs Mark Reynolds and Magnus
Liljedahl Finish 17th, Drop to Fifth Overall

After two days of uncooperative weather, the world’s best sailors took to Miami’s Biscayne Bay for the second race of the
BACARDI Cup Star-Class Regatta. With winds gusting at an average of 12-15 knots, Brazil’s Torben Grael and Marcelo Ferreira chose the left side of the
starting line -- away from most of the 65-fleet field -- and led from start to finish to easily win Wednesday’s race.

'We’re feeling pretty good about today,' Grael said. 'This might be the first time a non-North American wins the BACARDI Cup, but it is still too early to talk
about this.'

The victory, however, was not good enough to catapult the Olympic bronze medalists to first place overall. The top spot in the BACARDI Cup now belongs
to Australian skipper Colin Beashel and crew David Giles, who finished in second place for the second consecutive race. Grael and Ferreira, who are
competing in their fourth BACARDI Cup, are in second place overall.

Beashel, who is competing in his seventh BACARDI Cup with Giles as his crew, said the winds were 'pretty shifty,' and the key to Wednesday’s race was a
'strong start.' Beashel, who has never finished higher than fourth in the BACARDI Cup, said he would love to bring the prestigious Trofeo Bacardi back to
his native Australia.

'Behind the Olympics and the World Championships, the BACARDI Cup is the top regatta in the world,' Beashel said. 'There is a fun side on the shore, but
the racing attracts the best in this class and other classes.'

Because inclement weather caused races to be postponed Monday and Tuesday, race officials have scheduled two races for Thursday. Racing ends on
Friday. Teams are allowed to throw out their worst finish – provided there is a minimum of five races. Principal race officer Dr. Bill Smoak said the race
committee would try to get two races in on Thursday and one on Friday. The first warning signal will be dropped at 10:50 a.m. Thursday.

Olympic gold medalists Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl, who won the opening race, finished 17th Wednesday, dropping the pair to 5th overall. Liljedahl
won the BACARDI Cup in 1997 and 1998 with Reynolds and in 1996 with Vince Brun. Reynolds, from San Diego, is a six-time BACARDI Cup champion.

'We had a lot of opportunities to do better today, but never really did anything with them,' said Liljedahl who is from Coral Gables. 'We weren’t really able to
clear our wind so we had to tack several times. We went left and the wind went right, but that is sailboat racing.'

Paul Cayard, who won the 1997-98 Whitbred Round the World Race, finished 13th Wednesday with his crew, Hal Haenel, putting the Americans in fourth
place overall.

Added Liljedahl: 'At the end of the week, the best team is going to win the regatta whether that is the Brazilians, the Australians or us. Luck and fortune
evens out in a series like this.'

Originated in Havana, Cuba in 1927, the BACARDI Cup is the only Cuban-born sporting event to survive in the United States. The regatta has been held at
the Coral Reef Yacht Club since 1962.

The BACARDI Cup is sponsored in full by Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. For more information on the BACARDI Cup 2001, visit www.bacardi.com.



OVERALL BACARDI CUP STANDINGS (after two races)

Skipper/Crew (City or Country) with finishes of each race and total points

Colin Beashel/David Giles (Australia), 2-2, 4

Torben Grael/Marcelo Ferreira (Brazil), 4-1, 5

Rod Davis/Mark Dolan (New Zealand), 6-6, 12

Paul Cayard/Hal Haenel (United States) 3-13, 16

Mark Reynolds/Magnus Liljedahl (San Diego/Coral Gables), 1-17, 18

Douglas Schofield/Robert Schofield (Annapolis), 10-11, 21

John MacCausland/Phil Trinter (United States), 5-18, 23

Ben Mitchell/Rick Peters (Los Angeles),19-7, 26

George Szabo/Billy Hollowesko (San Diego/Nassau), 17-10, 27

James Freeman/Bruce Hatfield (New York), 28-3, 31

RACE TWO RESULTS

Skipper/Crew (City or Country)

Torben Grael/Marcelo Ferreira (Brazil)

Colin Beashel/David Giles (Australia)

James Freeman/Bruce Hatfield (New York)

Foss Miller/Greg Newhall (Puget Sound)

Peter Bromby/Martin Siese (Bermuda)

Rod Davis/Mark Dolan (New Zealand)

Ben Mitchell/Rick Peters (Los Angeles)

Jack Rickard/Gus Farrar (Illinois/Colorado)

Terry Hutchinson/Andrew Scott (Annapolis)

George Szabo/Billy Hollowesko (San Diego/Nassau)

For further information go to www.starclass.org