Cubists exhibit winning canvas : Sailing

sailing

by stuart alexander

The all-female crew of America3 have kept up their record of winning first time out in every round robin. opening their account in the third series of Citizen Cup races they beat - in their 1992 boat -the old pro, Dennis Conner, in his 1994 Stars & Stripes.

Their starting helmsman, Jennifer "JJ" Isler, has never been short of aggression on the line, and once again she took the fight to Paul Cayard, showed that the 1992 Cup winner still had speed upwind and, in handing over to Leslie Egnot, also saw the women match a confrontation of over 50 zig-zags and strength-sapping sail winding tack for tack.

America3 also won the first race of the second series against Pact '95, and their coach, Kimo Worthington, is convinced that, as well as having at least equal speed upwind, the new boat which arrives next week will match their new-generation rivals downwind. "We are going to win some races." he said.

Also finding themselves on the back foot again were the French, as Neville Wittey gave Sydney '95 the edge at the start and Colin Beashel took over to drive Syd Fischer's boat further ahead, after a tight rounding of the first, upwind mark.

But the Spanish, despite having new keel and sails, still had no answer to Chris Dickson's Tag Heuer, despite controlling the start, and Russell Coutts' Team New Zealand continued their winning ways with a 13th victory on the water, this time at the expense of Nippon Challenge.

Citizen Cup Round robin Three; Day Two: America3 bt Stars & Stripes 1min 26sec. Louis Vuitton Cup Round robin Three; Race One: Sydney '95 bt FranceAmerica 38sec; Team New Zealand bt Nippon Challenge 1:34; Tag Heuer bt Bayona- Valencia 2:30.