Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic

Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic



NEWPORT, R.I. — Light and fluky winds forced the last day's
racing to be cancelled at the Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship 2000
and meant Vim avoided a three-way battle for the Racer division title. The
Nelson/Marek 43's owner Craig Speck of Grand Rapids, Mich., and helmsman
Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis, Md., were all smiles as they stepped off the
boat that San Diego's Bruce Nelson, also crewing, had redesigned so
effectively for this championship. Yesterday, there had been a dark,
brooding silence as the Vim crew finished some way behind their closest
rivals in the high-scoring, 128-mile offshore race. After winning the first
three inshore races, Vim's fifth place gave Idler, George David's
(Hartford, Conn.) Nelson/Marek 52, as well as Italian Vittorio Rava's
Atlantico Yah Man, a Frers 39, the opportunity to close the gap. The stage
was set for a thrilling showdown -- but the patchy breeze and relentless
drizzle put an end to that.

Challenging conditions in strong conditions. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic

Challenging conditions in strong conditions. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic



Hutchinson, the America's Cup mainsheet trimmer from the AmericaOne
campaign, paid tribute to his owner: "He took Bruce's and my
recommendations about the boat, about the crew choice, and now it has paid
off. Bruce did an outstanding job in preparing the boat for the IMS rule."
The speed that Vim showed in the first day's extreme conditions--30 knots
and steep waves--surprised even some of the crew. The new fin keel had been
fitted to the hull just two weeks before, so this was the first big test of
the boat in her new configuration.

Sagamore returning from the long distance race. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic

Sagamore returning from the long distance race. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic



Ken Read of Newport, R.I., the America's Cup sailor who was calling
tactics for owner/driver George David on Idler, was disappointed not to get
a crack at Vim. Nevertheless, he was gracious in defeat and ready to
praise the crew of Vim. "The fact is they sailed better than us, and I've
had my share of regattas where we've won when racing was cancelled on the
final day. You live by the sword and die by the sword." Idler still took
home a trophy for topping Class D, with seven boats.

Tomasso Chieffi, helmsman aboard Atlantico Yah Man, also was
disappointed not to get a chance to defend the title he won at last year's
Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship in Sardinia. He settled for winning
Class E honors, and was certain he'd be back for next year's event,
scheduled to take place either in Italy or Spain. With Atlantico Yah Man
sold to a Portuguese owner, the Italian America's Cup sailor said he would
be looking for another boat to race. "I'm getting older, and every year I
aim to sail a boat that is one foot longer."

Heavy seas on the first day of racing. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic

Heavy seas on the first day of racing. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic



While one Italian team failed to retain its title, another Italian
crew blitzed the competition in the Cruiser/Racer division. The only new
boat for the Championship, Vincenzo Onorato's Farr 42 Mascalzone Latino
proved to be every bit as fast as the Americans had feared. Mascalzone
Latino also handily topped its six-boat Class H.

The Americans were quick to acknowledge the powerful challenge from
the Italian crews. At the prize giving on the lawn of the New York Yacht
Club, the president and CEO of Rolex Watch USA, Walter Fischer, presented
Rolex Oyster Perpetual timepieces to the top two skippers in each division.
He then threw down the gauntlet for the top American boat in each division,
Vim in Racer and Agincourt in Cruiser/Racer, to accept a generous offer to
have the boats shipped free of charge to next year's World Championship in
Europe.

In just its second year of existence, the Rolex IMS Offshore World
Championship has become established as one of the top events on the racing
calendar. As Ken Read observed: "It's a wonderful crown jewel in a
wonderful rule."

Other Class Action

Udo Schroff of East Greenwich, R.I. steered his IMX38 Amadeus to four
victories in as many races for Class J. Sailing with an all-Rhode Island
crew, he considered the Championship more about sailing within a tight
class rating band than about being named an overall champion. "In a
championship like this," he said, "it's almost always the bigger boats that
are battling for the overall title. Our goal for today was to improve our
fleet standing, since we had the class won. I was disappointed we couldn't
do that, but we're ecstatic to have won our class."

Heavy seas on the first day of racing. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic

Heavy seas on the first day of racing. Photos courtesy Carlo Borlenghi/KOS/Strategic



For Stephen Phillips of Arnold, Md., a Class F victory aboard his
Concordia 47 Le Renard was cinched when his team rallied to win the
distance race. "We were so far behind Appreciation and Wonder that it was
daunting," said Phillips, "and then it came down to the last quarter mile
of racing." Crew member Maxine Prevatt (Annapolis) added: "You don't
normally get shivers in a distance race, but it was so amazing how the crew
gave everything they had to catch up." Phillips said all winners in the
event were deserving, having "sailed the elements from heavy to medium to
light."

The Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship was part of the New York
Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex, which also hosted PHRF
championship racing that concluded yesterday. Action at the split-racing
format regatta picks up again on Friday, when One-Design Championship
racing begins.

Top Five Final Results

IMS Racer Division - top-five overall standings
1.Vim 3, N/M43,Class E, Craig Speck, Grand Rapids, Mich., USA, 1-1-1-5;
14.75
2. Idler, N/M50, Class D, George David, Hartford, Conn., USA, 2-5-3-3; 17.5
3. Atlantico Yah-Man, FRS39, Class E, Vittorio Rava, Milan, ITALY, 4-6-6-1;
17.87
4. Gaucho, FRR45, Class E, Peter Gordon, Annapolis, Md., USA, 11-8-4-6; 38
5. V-Max, FRR39, Class E, Fred Pipin, Chicago, Ill., USA,13-11-10-2; 39

IMS Cruiser/Racer Division - top-five overall standings
1. Mascalzone Latino, FRR43, Class H, Vincenzo Onorato, Naples, ITALY,
2-1-1-1; 5.37
2. Agincourt, N/M43, Class H, Paul Lowell/R. Atkin, Hempstead, N.Y., USA,
3-2-3-3; 15.5
3. Sforzando, TAY45, Class H, Blair Brown, Newton, Mass., USA, 4-3-9-2; 21
4. Sirena, TRP43, Class H, Steven Loeb, New York, N.Y., USA, 1-4-2-6; 21.75
5. Morning Glory, TRP41, Class H, Carl Olsson, Larchmont, N.Y., USA,
7-5-7-4; 29

IMS Racer Division -- top five by class

Class D (7 boats)
1. Idler, N/M50, Class D, George David, Hartford, Conn., USA, 1-4-2-1; 8.62
2. Virago, N/M47, Class D, Bache McKee Renshaw, South Dartmouth, Mass.,
USA, 5-5-1-3; 18.25
3. Blue Yankee, R/P66, Class D, Robert Towse, Stamford, Conn., USA,
2-2-3-5; 19.5
4. Chessie Racing, FRR52, Class D, George Collins, Gibson Island, Md., USA,
4-1-7-4; 21.75
5. Rima, FRR60, Class D, Isam Kabbani, SAUDI ARABIA/Middletown, R.I., USA
6-7-4-2; 22

Class E (12 boats)
1. Atlantico Yah-Man, FRS39, Class E, Vittorio Rava, Milan, ITALY, 2-2-4-1;
9.87
2.Vim 3, N/M43,Class E, Craig Speck, Grand Rapids, Mich., USA, 1-1-1-4;
12.25
3. Gaucho, FRR45, Class E, Peter Gordon, Annapolis, Md., USA, 5-3-2-5; 22.5
4. V-Max, FRR39, Class E, Fred Pipin, Chicago, Ill., USA, 7-6-7-2; 25
5. Cwene II, TRP41, Class E, James Sinclair, New York, N.Y., USA, 4-4-3-6;
26

IMS Cruiser/Racer Division -- top five by class

Class F (5 boats)
1. Le Renard, CON47, Class F, Stephen Phillips, Arnold, Md., USA, 2-2-4-1;
9.87
2. Appreciation, BLT50, Class F, Jeffrey Siegal, New York, N.Y., USA,
1-1-2-4; 13.5
3. Harrier, S&S48, Class F, Jeff Salzman, Riverside, Conn., USA, 3-3-3-2;
14
4. Wonder, TRP46, Class F, Stephen Van Dyck, Tampa, Fla., USA, 4-4-1-3;
16.25
5. Redoutable, SWN56, Class F, Nader Habashi, Huntersville, N.C., USA,
5-5-5-5; 27.5

Class H (6 boats)
1. Mascalzone Latino, FRR43, Class H, Vincenzo Onorato, Naples, ITALY,
2-1-1-1; 5.37
2. Agincourt, N/M43, Class H, Paul Lowell/R. Atkin, Hempstead, N.Y., USA,
3-2-3-3; 15.5
3. Sforzando, TAY45, Class H, Blair Brown, Newton, Mass., USA, 4-3-6-2; 18
4. Sirena, TRP43, Class H, Steven Loeb, New York, N.Y., USA, 1-4-2-6; 21.75
5. Morning Glory, TRP41, Class H, Carl Olsson, Larchmont, N.Y., USA,
5-5-5-4; 25

Class J (4 boats)
1. Amadeus, IMX38, Class J, Udo Schroff, East Greenwich, R.I., USA,
1-1-1-1; 4.12
2. Brainstorm, IMX38, Class J, Phillip Gutin/Peter Crowley, New York, N.Y.,
USA, 2-2-2-2; 11
3. Pequot, HNK44, Class J, Bevin Cherot, Westwood, Mass., USA, 3-3-3-3;
16.5
4. Black Watch, HNK42, Class J, Thomas Harrington/Phil Lotz, Greenwich,
Conn., USA, 5-5-5-4; 27.5