Close battle for first to finish
by Flavia Bateson 18 Jun 2005 19:55 BST
18 June 2005
Line honours for Maximus in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race © Steve Arkley /
www.sailshots.co.uk
After a slow beginning, the race to be the first boat back into Cowes turned into a real monohull versus multihull battle. The two Grand Prix French trimarans from La Trinite sur Mer in Brittany started with a flourish but halfway through the race not only had the New Zealand yacht "Cityindex
Maximus" overtaken but also "Nokia Enigma" and "Pindar". Beating in very light airs did not suit "Nuku Hiva 2" and she slipped back with her sistership but retaliated strongly on the final reach to the finish, just 39 seconds behind "Cityindex Maximus", which had Olympic medallist Ian Walker providing the local knowledge as tactician.
In IRC0 "Linklaters Fidessa Fastwave" (DK46 - Robert Elliott) beat sistership "Shockwave" (Nick Lutte) by 7 minutes on corrected time after an eight hour race. Further down Shirley Robertson skippering "Volvo for Life" was just 37 seconds adrift of "Hurley Palmer Flatt" and had to settle for sixth place.
Emma Richards was racing "Pindar Alphagraphics" with sponsors and supporters on board and won the Open 60 class from Mike Golding in "Ecover". Emma commented: "We had a good, light wind start. The breeze built slowly towards The Needles. 'Ecover' was always on elastic - we'd build a lead and she'd catch up, especially when the wind was coming from different directions. We were delighted to complete this race well, having retired from the Calais Round Britain." Emma's crew included Mike Sanderson, Brad Jackson and Dave Endean, currently in training for the Volvo Ocean Race, plus Pindar CEO Andrew Pindar and transatlantic rower Debra Veal. Emma will next be racing "Pindar" in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
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