Sailing Surfing Shoes on the crest of a wave

Sailing

STUART ALEXANDER

reports from Cowes

After three days' absence, the breeze returned to the Solent yesterday to give the 850 boats taking part in Skandia Life Cowes Week an energetic work-out and took the big boats contesting one of the week's major prizes, the Britannia Cup, for a trip out to the Nab Tower and back.

The winner by just 16 seconds after the handicaps were worked out was the Irishman Colm Barrington in the new Bashford 41, Surfing Shoes. Third was the man who pipped him for Tuesday's Bathsheba Trophy, Geoff Howison, in the sister ship Local Hero, and sandwiched in between them was the 1992 winner, Richard Matthews, in the modified 12-metre, Crusader.

Nicorette, skippered by Ludde Ingvall, led the charge from start to finish in the 15 to 18 knot south-easterly. But, despite being back on her mooring long before the other boats had crossed the finish line at the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Swedish maxi's debilitating handicap ensured her rivals had time to spare.

At times, the conditions were difficult, especially in the choppier waters at the mouth of Medina, and there was a steady stream of retirements. Laurie Boarer, a local boat builder taking a day off for the first time in the week to sail his Flying Fifteen, Gandalf, hit trouble when he boat started taking water, and had to be towed by the in-shore rescue service.

Also in difficulty was James Dolan's American maxi, Sagamore, which became caught on the chain which guides the floating bridge between east and west Cowes. Consequently, the start of the maxi race was delayed until all the other classes had completed the sequence. Dolan then joined the fray only for all three maxis to retire, two because of damage, the third in sympathy with the injured.

In the other classes, Adam Gosling beat Poul-Richard Hoj-Jensen, a double Olympic gold medallist, into second place in the 47-strong Etchells, a class which holds its World Championships in Cowes next year, and Eric Williams was back at the head of the 29-strong Dragon fleet.

Having had a day off, the eight countries, led by America and Italy, in the Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup sail the last of the inshore races today, the Kenwood Cup in the Solent, leaving just the Fastnet race, which starts on Saturday.