 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| up date
: 11/21 |
| Ed
Baird Won Nippon Cup for the Second Time! |
|
 |
|
The final match was
competed in between Ed Baird, the veteran
racer and The America's Cup Challenger,
and Jes Gram-Hansen, the middle-class match
racer at age 33.
The first flight sailed off in the north-eastern wind. The water was quite the
same - very shifty as yesterday.
Baird took a good start ahead to round the first windward mark, but Gram-Hansen
fought back in the second leg. At the third leg, they took the courses on the
opposite sides. When they met again, Baird was leading the race and he crossed
the finish line first. Jes Gram-Hansen, who lost the race, commented, "It is
too risky to fight at close positions under this kind of subtle winds. If I follow
the opponent's movement, it would disturb my own strategies. So, I took the course
I trusted it would make me win, ..."
The second flight races took place after three hours of waiting for the winds
to blow. Both teams were maneuvering their boats on the windward side, and they
got back to the starting line with the spinnakers hoisted. Their decisions were
remarkably quick and their movements were speedy. Gram-Hansen was in the advantageous
position at the starting point. He was on the windward side of Baird's to lead
by one boat. This lead further advanced to 15 boats at the first windward mark,
and he kept the leads to the second leeward mark, too. However, at the third
leg, each team took the opposite course direction. When they met again, Baird
caught up with Gram-Hansen, and he was leading the race by 22 seconds at the
third windward mark. Baird said after the race, "My crew members worked wonderfully."
Gram-Hansen's tactics were not rewarded again.
The third flight went similarly. Baird got a penalty of the windward/leeward
case at the starting line. And it was ranked as "immediate penalty" which meant
that he had to clear it at once. With this result, Gram-Hansen took 55 seconds
of lead at the first mark. The distance was shortened only to three boats at
the second mark. Still, Gram-Hansen was leading. At the third leg, Baird took
his course to the starboard and Gram-Hansen to the port. Again, Baird chased
Gram-Hansen from behind and took over. Baird rounded the final mark leading 27
seconds ahead, and he crossed the finish line.
"I have many friends in Japan and I was very much looking forward to coming to
Japan. There were several troubles during the race week; however, I would give
big appreciations to my crew members." Ed Baird commented feeling happy with
his second victory at the Nippon Cup since 1995. |
| |
 |
|
 BACK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
