Holmatro slips

Tommy Hilfiger took the lead at the Volvo Extreme 40 GP in Baltimore

The wind challenged the five VX40 teams on the fourth day of racing as the sailors had to contend with three to eight knots of wind which flickered around Baltimore’s Inner Harbour.

America’s Cup legend John Bertrand was the guest of honour for the day, sailing with Cam Lewis on Team Volvo Ocean Race for the first two races and then helping to lead Tommy Hilfiger to victory in the final and longest race of the day.

Pirates of the Caribbean sailor Anthony Merrington can not keep away for the exciting new class and stepped back onboard Team Holmatro for the day. Unfortunately the team could not quite match the results from his last outing, and they forfeited their overall lead which they had held since day two.

With a one-two-one score line, Randy Smyth on Tommy Hilfiger and his team comprising of Stan Schreyer, Jonathan Farrar and Richard Feeney, have a nine point lead going into the final day of racing.

Smyth commented: “I had a good day and really enjoyed it out there – until I got thrown in by Conrad (Humphreys). I guess that is what happens when you’re leading the regatta.”

Mitch Booth and Team Holmatro are currently placed second overall, eleven points in front of the all British boat, Team Basilica.

Conrad Humphrey’s Motorola had Brunel skipper Grant Wharington onboard as a guest but unfortunately could not move up from fourth place overall.

Leigh McMillan, helm of Motorola-CHR commented: “It is always good fun when you are racing on a 100m width course - it is close and exciting with the potential of many position changes and protests.”

Despite sitting at the bottom of the leader board, Cam Lewis and his team of Greg Homann, Doug Deaver and Larry Harteck finally started enjoying the racing and even pulled off their best result so far in the regatta – their first race win.

Lewis said: “We had a wonderful days racing today and Team Volvo Ocean Race are really happy to have two near podium finished and a first place.”

The Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series concludes tomorrow and then the boats get packed up and shipped to Portsmouth, England for the penultimate grand prix venue of Portsmouth.

Results:

1-Tommy Hilfiger, USA (1,1,1,1,2,4,5,3,1,1,4,4,1,2,1) 121 pts
2-Team Holmatro, NED (2,3,3,2,1,1,1,2,3,3,1,2,3,5,3) 112 pts
3-Team Basilica, GBR (4,4,2,5,5,2,2,1,2,2,3,1,4,4,2) 101 pts
4-Motorola – CHR, GBR (5,2,4,3,3,3,3,4,4,5,5,3,2,3,4) 84 pts
5-Volvo Ocean Race, USA (3,5,5,4,4,5,4,5,5,4,2,5,5,1,5) 77 pts