Main Page | Newsletter | Sailing calendar | America's Cup | Glossary

Defiant ahead in Farr 40s

Story Tools

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Canada's Terry McLaughlin sailing Defiant was leading the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships after two days of racing on Friday.

Defiant won the first and third of three races on the second of the competition in Nassau. But the results are subject to protests involving incidents at the start.

"The fleet is very aggressive," said Olympic gold medallist Robbie Haines, tactician on Crocodile Rock, which was lying third overall. "Consistency and staying out of trouble is the key here."

Making huge gains on the second day was Le Renard, skippered by American Steve Phillips of Arnold, Maryland. He moved from eighth to second overall with finishes of 2-7-10.

"As much as everyone wanted to win today, you just have to say that a second is fine," said Le Renard's tactician Mark Reynold. "I've learned from experience that in this class you just need to be in the top 10 in every race."

The second race of the day was won by Breeze, the Italian entry skippered by Vincenzo Onorato, who came straight to the championship after his Mascalzone Latino team was the first to be eliminated from the America's Cup Challenger Races in New Zealand. Breeze was 13th overall.

The one-design Farr 40 has proved popular with owners who have moved away from handicap racing. The strict class rules ensure the boats are equal and control costs by limiting the number of new sails that can be purchased each year.

The class has an owner-driver rule which has encouraged many owners, who would normally just sit at the back and write the cheques, to take the helm.

The number of sailing professionals on board is also controlled, but this has not stopped most of the owners hiring top tacticians to sit beside them.

There are 25 entries from eight countries in the championship, due to end on Saturday. They are based at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Nassau.

Rolex Farr 40 World Championships (results after five races)

1. DEFIANT Terry McLaughlin, Ontario, Canada, 1-4-1-9-1, 16 points

2. LE RENARD Steve Phillips Arnold, Maryland, USA, 17-2-2-7-10, 38 points

3. CROCODILE ROCK Alexandra Geremia/Scott Harris, California, USA,

11-9-12-10-2, 44 points

4. SAMBA PA TI John Kilroy, California., USA, 12-5-8-8-13, 46 points

5. BARKING MAD Jim Richardson, Rhode Island. USA, 13-3-3-13-15, 47 points

6. NERONE Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Migliori, Rome, Italy, 6-1-16-3-21, 47

points

7. BOTTADICULO Giovanni Arrivabene/Andrea Bocchini, Massarosa, Italy, 2-10-7

4-DNF, 49 points

8. GROOVEDERCI Deneen/John Demourkas, California, USA, 8-14-17-2-4, 50