2003 Admiral's Cup - Spain Still Leads

With King Juan Carlos of Spain still unbeaten in the big boat class of the Admiral's Cup, Spain's Real Club Nautico San Genjo now, provisionally, has a clear lead at the top of the leader board, after four of the nine races have been completed.

Australia's Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club hold second place, just three points behind the Spanish, while the Sailability Royal Ocean Racing Club team representing Britain are a further four points back in third place.

The overall results at this stage, and therefore the Corum Trophy for the best performing team over the first two days of the event, are in doubt due to a protest between the British boat Dickies Yacht Sales, and the small boat of the Spanish team, Telefonica Movistar.

Sunday's racing was sailed in almost perfect conditions, with a steady 12 to 15 knot south easterly breeze and a cloudless blue sky, for the first of the day's two contests, with the wind easing to between 10 and 12 knots in the afternoon.

In the big boat class, the pattern that emerged on the first day continued, with Australia's Wild Oats, steered by Mark Richards, establishing an early and ever increasing lead, though never far enough ahead of the King of Spain's Bribon Telefonica Movistar, to win on handicap.

In the small boat class, the competition is much tighter, with the fleet always closely bunched, and mistakes or tactical errors punished rapidly, with lost places.

However, after two days three boats - Australia's Aftershock, the Spanish Telefonica Movistar and Chernikeeff 4 of Britain - have established themselves as the front runners.

Some of the best tactical racing has been between Chernikeeff 4, steered by Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, and Aftershock with bronze medallist Colin Beashel at the helm.

Although King Juan Carlos is leaving his boat for a few days, to return home on official duty, it is unlikely the current good performance will suffer, as the crew is stacked with some of the world's top big boat sailing talent.

Behind the wheel is Britain's Jez Fanstone, with another Briton, Eddie Warden Owen as tactician, while navigating is Australian Andrew Cape, to name but a few of the big names on board.

Tomorrow - Monday - the fleet set off on a short offshore race, around the English Channel, which will be tailored to last between 24 and 36 hours, and will count for double points.

CLICK HERE for full results.