IC 45 Clean Marine Series

Day 3

The final race of the Clean Marine IC 45 Winter Series 2001 got underway in 5 knots of wind and a very weak sea breeze. With only one race scheduled in the light conditions, Barlo Plastics had to prevent the Swedish team aboard SEB from winning the race, in order to clinch the regatta.

Barlo Plastics IC 45 started match racing SEB 4½ minutes prior to the race start, and managed to pin the Swedish team outside of the left hand end of the start line. Both yachts started late although Barlo Plastics rounded the top mark in first place, with SEB trailing the five-strong fleet, as the two British entries Babbalaas and Bounder had made the decision to return to the marina in the light conditions.

On the finish line, Barlo Plastics took second place behind the French boat Faster K-Yote II. Skipper Stead said, "Covering the Swedish team was always our priority, ahead of actually winning the race. We had to ensure that SEB didn't win the final race of the Series so we executed this well, and we also seemed to be quite quick in the light airs."

Overall IC 45 Clean Marine Winter Series 3 standings (after 9 races) :

1. Barlo Plastics (A.Stead/B. Ainslie) GBR (2-3-1-3-2-6-1-2-2)
2. SEB (G. Krantz/M. Van Triest) SWE (4-1-2-7-3-1-3-3-3)
3. La Casera (W. Smith/J.Jaudenes) ESP (3-2-3-1-5-4-5-4-4)
4. Faster K-Yote 2 (N.Charbonnier/ A. Fedensieu) FRA (6-4-4-6-1-2-7-1-1)
5. Babbalaas(I. Barker/D. Mc Lean) GBR (1-5-7-4-4-3-4-5-DNF)
6. Bounder (J. Robinson / C. Little) GBR (5-7-5-2-6-5-2-7-DNF)
7. Aifos (R. Amaldo/ SAR Felipe de Borbon) ESP (7-6-6-5-7-7-6-6-5).

Day 2

Lighter conditions greeted the seven-strong IC 45 fleet on the second day of the final regatta in the Clean Marine IC 45 Winter Series 2001, with 7 - 12 knots of breeze.

Adrian Stead and his crew aboard Barlo Plastics IC 45, had a great start to the first race (race five of the regatta) and an impressive run on the first beat saw them lead the fleet until the last beat when Faster K-Yote II came from behind to overtake Barlo Plastics coming into the finish. The Swedish yacht SEB took third place in today's opening race.

The start of Race 2 saw many of the fleet caught out by a left-hand wind shift however Barlo Plastics secured the best start, only to be themselves caught out when the wind shifted back and they found themselves on the wrong side of the beat. This resulted in Barlo Plastics' worst result of the Series, finishing in 6th, whilst the Swedish team aboard SEB took first place, ahead of Faster K-Yote II and Babbalaas in third.

An aggressive start to Race 3 saw Barlo Plastics, Faster K-Yote II and Babbalaas all forced out and stuck to windward of the starboard Committee Boat. Having gybed around, Barlo Plastics then sailed an excellent first beat and recovered well to take second at the windward mark. Coming into the leeward gate, Barlo Plastics then overtook Bounder to clinch a comfortable lead which was maintained to the finish, ahead of 2nd place Bounder and SEB in third.

A start line incident on the fourth and final race of the day, involving SEB and Barlo Plastics, resulted in the Swedish team having to do a penalty turn for failing to keep clear of their close rival Barlo Plastics, the leeward yacht. Faster K-Yote II got to the right-hand side to pick up a good shift to lead the fleet, and with a great first beat by Barlo Plastics, the big boat selected for the Barlo Plastics British Admiral's Cup Team, they went on to hold 2nd place, ahead of SEB who once again took third.

Overall IC 45 Clean Marine Winter Series 3 standings (after 8 races) :

1. Barlo Plastics (A.Stead/B. Ainslie) GBR (2-3-1-3-2-6-1-2) 14pts
2. SEB (G. Krantz/M. Van Triest) SWE (4-1-2-7-3-1-3-3) 17 pts
3. La Casera(W. Smith/J.Jaudenes) ESP (3-2-3-1-5-4-5-4) 22pts
4. Faster K-Yote(N.Charbonnier/ A. Fedensieu) GER (6-4-4-6-1-2-7-1) 24 pts
5. Babbalaas(I. Barker/D. Mc Lean) GBR (1-5-7-4-4-3-4-5) 26pts
6. Bounder (J. Robinson / C. Little) GBR (5-7-5-2-6-5-2-7) 32 pts
7. Aifos (R. Amaldo/ SAR Felipe de Borbon) ESP (7-6-6-5-7-7-6-6) 43 pts

Day 1

Adrian Stead, Ben Ainslie and the rest of the English Barlo Plastics crew are returning to Palma for the final of the three events in the Clean Marine IC 45 Winter Series 2001. Barlo Plastics currently leads the overall event with two regatta wins and 30 pts, whilst fellow UK competitor, Babbalaas, has 28 pts.

Racing commenced today on the waters of Palma de Mallorca in 12-15 knots of offshore breeze and quite shifty conditions, which coupled with clear blue skies made for some excellent sailing conditions. The fleet of seven yachts, representing four nations, once again experienced exceptionally close racing as they battled to clinch victory at the finale of the three event Series.

The first race of the day saw Barlo Plastics IC 45 leading at the first windward mark and also at the bottom mark, however two places were then lost when their jib jammed, taking about 2 minutes to hoist. Barlo Plastics sailed well to overtake the Spanish boat, La Casera, but finished in second place behind David Mclean's Babbalaas.

Race 2 also saw Barlo Plastics leading the fleet at the first windward mark, but a costly mistake on the first run saw two boats overtake her coming into the bottom mark. The Swedish team aboard SEB (Gunnar Krantz & Marcel Van Triest) took first place, ahead of La Casera and Barlo Plastics in third.

The third race however saw Ainslie secure an excellent start and a return to the recent good form for Barlo Plastics who led all the way round to take their first victory of the deciding regatta.

Barlo Plastics also led at the top mark in the fourth and final race of the day, however a tactical attempt to slow down their closest rival, La Casera, proved costly when two boats overtook Barlo Plastics and an average sail down the run saw La Casera get past too. La Casera went on to take 1st place whilst the British boats Bounder and Barlo Plastics took 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Barlo Plastics are in joint 1st place overall after friday's 4 races with La Casera (9 points) and racing continues Saturday 10th March and Sunday 11th.