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27 June 2006

Commodore's Cup Day 2

Two more light wind races on the Solent and Scotland’s Commodore’s Cup team unfortunately remain anchored at the foot of the results table, despite an encouraging sixth in the first contest of the day from the Mumm 36 Absolutely 2.

With 8-10 knots of south easterly breeze, and a course set mid Solent between Cowes and Hillhead, conditions did look to be more promising for the Scots.

Absolutely looked to have made a brave call going offshore in the early part of the first beat, but they came into their own later, with the advantage of sailing their own lanes in clear breeze.

Their second race, a long zig-zagging round the bouys race working up east and then back to a finish off Osbourne Bay, was not as good and Absolutely could only manage an 11th. Salamander XVIII, the small Scottish boat, showed promise – especially in the second race when they were well up with Antix and the top French boat Batistyl, but a couple of bad tactical calls dumped them back to 13th which actually proved worse than their morning 11th place.

“I made some bad calls in the second race, but it is really disappointing. We just can’t get the speed at all. We are the fastest rated boat in the class and are just not able to get anywhere near the top J109.” Said Salamander’s tactian Dave Kelly.

The Scots big boat, the chartered IMX 45 Exabyte III, could do little to contribute to getting the team off the bottom rung of the results ladder with an 11th and 12th.

“We don’t have a number one genoa at all so that means as soon as it is light we just stop. It is pretty tough to take.” Admitted Exabyte III’s mainsheet trimmer Duggie Watson.

Irish teams continue to hold the top three overall placings.

Rolex Commodore’s Cup, Cowes. Team standings after 4 races:

1 Ireland Green (No Naked Flames,A Allen & C Monahan/Blondie, E Rohan/Tiamat, T Costello) 15.5pts,
2 Ireland Orange (Antix, A O’Leary/Jump Juice, C&D Phelan/Magic Glove, C Barrington) 22.5pts,
3 Ireland White (Checkmate, M McCarthy/Marinerscove.ie, D Dwyer/Marinerscove.ie II D Dwyer) 26.75,
4 France Blue (Batystyl, C Legloahec/Paprec Recyclage, S Neve/Courrier du Couer, G Trenteseaux) 28pts,
5 GBR White (Quokka, P Rutter/Maverick 2, D Chappell/Fair Do’s VII J Shepherd) 36pts,
6 GBR Red (No Doubt, C & H Neve/Software Mistress, I Maclean/Bear of Britain, M Campbell-James) 41.25pts,
7 GBR Black (Civils with Flair, L Macgregor/Mankie, J Pringle/Chernikeeff II, UK Sailing Academy) 44.25pts,
8 France White (TBS, J Bergaud/Guyader Esprit de La Mer, C Guyader/Codiam ENSP, J Nicolueau) 48.5pts,
9 Russia (Murka 2, M Mouratov/Juga, V Los & S Bruyuzga/Zarafa P Schofield) 49.25pts,
10 France Red (Pen Azen, P Delaporte/ Aon, J Pelletier/ Saga, A Foulquier) 50.5pts,
11 Belgium (Ship Shop Aquaholic, B Wilmet/Oxygen, A de Cock/Moana (F Goubou) 56.5pts,
12 Holland (Swisslife, A Van Oeuerven/Roark, K Kaan/Fatboy R J Ronneveld) 60pts,
13 GBR Scotland (Salamander XVIII, J Corson/Absolutely II, Kelly, Brammell & Plummer/Exabyte III, D Cullen) 67pts.