| Australia. Supermaxi Skandia, overcomes first loss |
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| Wednesday, 25 August 2004 | |
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When the Kiwi 98 footer Konica Minolta outgunned her Victorian rival Skandia yesterday in race three at Hahn Premium Race Week 2004 yesterday, spirits were high. There were raised eyebrows dockside, at Hamilton Island, when owner Stewart Thwaites declared his boat could pull out another two wins today. While Konica Minolta may in fact have the speed of Grant Wharington's Skandia, the 2003 Rolex Sydney to Hobart winner, there have been only rare glimpses of racing winning tactical decision making from the Kiwi camp in recent days. Race four this morning on the windward leeward course south of Hamilton Island, once more the Skandia afterguard showed they are on the pace. Bob Oatley's Wild Oats was fast on the pin end of the line, next to here was Matt Allen's Ichi Ban with her 25 crew jostling for rail space. Skandia came through with speed and continued left. Konica Minolta could not exist in her gas and tacked onto port. At the windward mark, it was clear the left had paid, with visibly more pressure; Skandia was five boat lengths ahead of Wild Oats, who had tracked left following her bigger rival. 200 metres behind the leader was Konica Minolta, paying for tactical errors one more time. She was only a little ahead of George Snow's Brindabella; another left hand side of course rewarded. Then came the twins scrapping again with After Shock boat lengths ahead of Another Duchess. At the second windward mark, it was Skandia again, her lead of more than a minute to Konica Minolta. Third was Wild Oats, another five boat length back, then Brindabella, ahead of After Shock and Another Duchess. Down the run, the big blue asymmetric Skandia kite, moved forward to finish 100 second ahead of Konica Minolta who was four minutes in front of Wild Oats, next was Brindabella, then Colin O'Neil's After Shock 42 seconds ahead of Another Duchess. Skandia finished at 12:09:09 Konica Minolta 12:10:49 Wild Oats 12:15:12 Race 2 was abandoned as a short tropical storm front swept the course, bring the first rain in four months, followed by a windless calm. www.sail-world.com TetraMedia |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 August 2004 ) |
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