Ipanema wins Millenium Cup

More big boat glamour from the Hauraki Gulf

High performance cruisers took the top prizes in both divisions of the New Zealand Millennium Cup Superyacht Regatta 2003 which wrapped up four days of racing today with a 30-mile race from Kawau Island to Auckland.

Reflecting the interest of America's Cup crews in the international rendezvous, afterguard members from Italy's Prada Syndicate, were at the helms of both winners. Prada Tactician Torben Grael steered the 112-foot Brazilian sloop Ipanema to victory in Division I. Prada alternate helmsman Gavin Brady had the wheel on the Dutch 80-foot sloop Innovision which topped Division II.

The fleet had anchored overnight at Kawau Island for two major social events, an owners and sponsors banquet under marquees at Mansion House and a crew party under a gigantic big top at nearby Pah Farm. The long narrow confines of Bon Accord Harbor was jammed with anchored boats. After dusk the deck lights, spreader lights and other lighting features on the superyachts gave the appearance of a small city. The normally
quiet anchorage emptied quickly this morning as the fleet prepared to race again.

It's said that gentlemen never sail to windward, and the men and women of the Millennium Cup regatta proved it today with a fast spinnaker reach and run, sailed under grey, threatening skies. Yesterday, they had raced to Kawau under spinnakers before a brisk southerly breeze.



Launched only three weeks ago from Auckland's McMullen and Wing shipyard, the sophisticated cruiser Ipanema, built in high strength Alustar aluminium and designed by German Frers Sr, featured a veritable who's who of Brazilian yachting. Brazilian owner Antonio Dias Leite was joined by Frers, Lars Grael and Rodney Keenan Minister of Sport for Brazil.

Innovision, also designed by Frers is a two-year-old 80-foot Nautor Swan, with a carbon fibre rig, owned and sailed by Dutchman Hans Eekhol. Sailing with the smaller and lower rating boats in handicap Division II, she scored triple bullets, winning starts and winning on elapsed and corrected time as she finished each day with the leading boats in Division I.

The fastest boat in Division I was Kiwi Neville Crichton's water-ballasted maxi-racer Alfa Romeo which each day quickly left her bigger and more fully-appointed cruiser sisters in her wake. Although she was the corrected time winner yesterday, a blown spinnaker cost her precious minutes today and with it any chance of first place today or overall. She placed second overall in the division.

Unofficial results (subject to protest):

Racing Day 4 - Division 1
Place, Boat, Skipper/Owner, Country, Elapsed Time, Corrected Time
1. Ipanema, Antonio Dias Leite, Brazil, 02:27:07, 03:34:03
2. Alfa Romeo, Neville Crichton, New Zealand, 02:07:49, 03:38:18
3. Ulisse, Charter to Mr Bertelli, Italy, 02:24:29, 03:38:45
4. Alithia, Adam Painter, Germany, 02:23:19, 03:40:34
5. Mari Cha III, Robert Miller, England, 02:12:03, 03:42:54

Overall Results - Division 1
Place, Boat Name, Skipper/Owner, Country, Points
1. Ipanema, Antonio Dias Leite, Brazil, (4-0-3-1), 8;
2. Alfa Romeo, Neville Crichton, New Zealand (8-0-1-2), 11;
3. Ulisse, Patrizio Bertelli (charter), Italy (1-0-8-3), 12;
4. Unfurled, Harry Macklowe, USA (2-0-6-6), 14;
5. Canon Leopard, Mike Slade, England (3-0-4-7), 14.

Racing Day 4 - Division 2
1. Innovision, Hans Eekhol, Holland, 02:40:30, 03:41:58
2. Sariyah, Isam Kabbani, New Zealand, 02:45:56, 03:45:30
3. Antaeus, Charles St Clair Brown, New Zealand, 02:52:30, 03:47:52 4.
Imagine, Richard Lowe, Monaco, 02:45:05, 03:50:57 5. Moonblue 2, Peter
Churchouse, Hong Kong, 03:02:51, 03:50:56

Overall Results - Division 2
1. Innovision, Hans Eekhol, Holland, (1-0-1-1), 3;
2. Antaeus, Charles St Clair Brown, New Zealand, (2-0-2-3), 7; 3.
Sariyah, Isam Kabbani, New Zealand, (4-0-3-2), 9, *P; 4. Maya Ray, Dave
Wagner, Grand Cayman, (3-0-6-6), 15; 5. Moonblue 2, Peter Churchouse,
Hong Kong, (7-0-4-5), 16.