Bacardi Cup - Pepper and Giles in the groove

by Annabel Jeaffreson on 5 Mar 2007

Today in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Hamish Pepper and stand-in crew David Giles from Australia, kicked off day one of the 80th annual Bacardi Cup in the usual Pepper style.

With a one race per day structure the pair placed second in the first race. Hamish Pepper said, 'It was a light tricky start to the race, we escaped with what could have been a terrible start for us. We had one boat that was over the start line come reaching down on top of us right when we were about to start the race. Luckily we managed to lift off him and hold our position.

'Things continued to not go as smoothly as we hoped. I fell out of the boat after missing the hiking strap at the bottom mark. I was some 20 feet behind the boat but managed to hold onto the mainsheet and pull myself back in. It was an exciting couple of minutes, but the type of excitement we could do without! But we came good and I was happy to finish in 2nd.'

First place was taken by Maurice O’Connel of Ireland and third by Robert Stanjek of Germany.

Once again, the international competition is strong with more than 100 Star Class teams from 20-plus countries. Teams will compete in daily races over the six-day sailing event.


Bacardi Cup 2007
Top five places after one race

1st - Maurice O’Connell – Ireland
2nd - Hamish Pepper – New Zealand
3rd - Robert Stanjek – Germany
4th - Mateusz Kusznierewicz – Poland
5th - Peter Bromby – Bermuda