Day Five Of Sardinia Rolex Cup Sees The USA Drop To Second, Just One Point Behind Spain

Following the arrival of H.M. the King of Spain, the Spanish team takes the lead overall followed by USA. Swiss take Third place, with Italy Red in Fourth

PORTO CERVO, Italy (June 25, 2004) - The seven teams competing in the 2004 Sardinia Rolex Cup, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, sailed a single windward leeward race on this penultimate day of regattas. North west winds of about 20 knots accompanied the start of the 10 mile race. Spain, spurred on by the presence of H.M. King Juan Carlos, finished in first place on 41 points, overtaking the United States team who are now in second on 42. The Swiss team retains third place with 56 points, and no change in ranking either for Italy Red in fourth on 58 points.

The Spanish team finished second in both IMS and Swan 45 classes with "Bribon Telefonica " and "Meridiana Telefonica" respectively, while their "Nerone Meridiana" took third place in the Farr 40's. Marco Birch's "Talisman" for team USA remains at the top of the IMS overall ranking after 6 races, despite taking fourth place in today's regatta.

"Today's conditions in which the wind dropped from around 26 knots to 11 made sailing difficult in terms of choosing sails, but also very interesting. We had a good race and we'll be happy if we're in the lead" reported Pedro Campos, skipper of H.M. King Juan Carlos' "Bribon Telefonica" .

According to Adrian Stead, tactician on "Mascalzone Latino" which came in third in the Swan 45 class for the United States team, "we fought the Spanish for second place all the way round, unfortunately we messed up a jibe at a crucial point so we accepted our third place and set about doing what we could against Bribon."

Tomorrow, Saturday 26, the final day of the Sardinia Rolex Cup 2004. Prizegiving is scheduled for 6.30 pm at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's Clubhouse.