2003 Admiral's Cup - Australia And Spain Share The Lead

At the end of the first day of the Admiral's Cup, Australia and Spain share first place, with eight points each on the scoreboard after two races. The outstanding performer of the day was Spain's Bribon Telefonica Movistar, skippered by King Juan Carlos, who led his crew to a pair of first places in the big boat class.

However it was sheer consistency on the part of the Australians that lifted them into equal first place, with their two boats, Wild Oats and Aftershock scoring two second places each.

Spain's second boat Telefonica Movistar, in the small boat class, opened their account well with a first place in the opening race, but slumped to fifth in the second after a premature start forced them to return and re-start.

The radical Australian big boat, Wild Oats with its swinging keel, owned by winery magnate Bob Oatley, led the fleet around the track in both races, but could not get enough distance between herself and the King of Spain's
boat to win on handicap.

Racing in the small boat fleet was much tighter, with Aftershock, Telefonica Movistar and Britain's Chernikeef 4, all very competitive, and stacked with top international sailing talent.

Spain's Telefonica Movistar Sailing Team represent the Real Club Nautico San Genjo, from the Galicia region, while the Australian team are from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club near Sydney.

Currently in third place, of the eight teams competing, are Britain's Sailability Royal Ocean Racing Club team, which features an impressive selection of the country's Olympic medallists, including Ben Ainslie and Ian Walker, and America's Cup sailors.

Racing was initially delayed for over two and a half hours, due to lack of wind, but the patience of the organisers and sailors was rewarded, when an 8 - 12 knot south easterly breeze ruffled the sparkling surface of the Solent.

Teams for the Admiral's Cup are made up of two boats, the big boat fitting in the 50 to 65 foot range, while the small one is between 40 and 42 feet, with the two fleets sailing separate races.

A total of nine races will be sailed over the next twelve days, ranging from brief sprints around the Solent, to a 48 hour offshore race in the English Channel.

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