Collision with Leopard
Sunday August 5th 2001, Author: Sian Cowen, Location: United Kingdom
The Mumm 30 class started their week with a bang when William Edwards' Sardonyx Vl hit Mike Slade's immaculate Reichel/Pugh 92 Skandia Life Leopard close to the finish of the first race.
Racing between the Mumm 30s Sardonx Vl, Mad Cow Hyde sailed by Darren and Georgie Baker and Richard Bonham Christie's Bite the Bullett had been nail bitingly close and these three boats were at loggerheads on the final leg.
Bite the Bullett had just got through Mad Cow Hyde and were being covered to the finish by SardonyxVI. Both boats were on starboard tack with Leopard powering along at 14 knots above them. Bite the Bullett tacked on to port knowing that they would have to duck Leopard. Sardonyx Vl followed to cover but somehow had failed to see Slade's giant maxi. Leopard swiftly rounded up. Sardonyx Vl crashed tacked. But it was too late - the two yachts collided.
Fortunately as Sardonyx Vlwas mid-tack at the time no legs were over the side and the incident was without injury apart from some sore wallets. Surprisingly there was very little damage to either boat thus proving that Mumms really are tough women(!). Sardonyx Vl later retired from the race and both boats will be back on the water tomorrow.
The rest of the Mumm 30s enjoyed a competitive race with breezes averaging 15knots offering fast downwind legs. Mad Cow was reporting average speeds of 10 to 12 knots and are looking forward to even more pace in tomorrow's predicted stronger breezes.
Mumm 30 results day one
1st Pogo Bogo/David Knight - GBR7830R
2nd Highlander/Gregor Logan - GBR8930R
3rd Mad Cow Hyde/Darren & Georgie Baker - GBR6930R
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