Kenwood Cup - two day

by Peter Campbell on 4 Aug 2000 After three races (race two was abandoned yesterday because of light winds) Australia
has 130 points on the leaderboard, with defending champions New Zealand on 122
points, followed by the USA Red team on 97, Japan 71, USA White on 65 and USA Blue
on 24 points.

With Hawaii’s famous tradewinds again blowing at a steady 15 knots off Waikiki, Smile,
skippered by Simon Whiston, won race four on IMS corrected time from sistership Fruit
Machine, skippered by his brother Neill. Third team yacht, Geoff Ross’ Farr 49, Yendys,
placed fifth.

Earlier today, Smile and Fruit Machine, dubbed by yachties as beach balls because of
their original concept as luxury cruiser/racers in contrast to the stripped-out grand prix
boats, had slumped to mid-fleet in race three.

As a result, the P&O Nedlloyd Australian team’s first day lead of 13 points slipped to
three points as New Zealand, defending the Kenwood Cup they won in Hawaii two years
ago, dominated race three.

New Zealand’s new Farr 47, Sea Hawk, won race three from the 1996 champion yacht,
the Farr 45, Big Apple III. Third team yacht, the new Farr 47, Air New Zealand High 5,
placed fourth under IMS corrected time.

For Australia, Yendys, the 1999 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race winner, Yendys, placed
fifth while Fruit Machine and Smile placed seventh and eighth.

However, the well-sailed beach balls were back at their best in race four, with Smile
beating Fruit Machine bv just 42 seconds on corrected time, Yendys placing fifth to give
Australia topscoring points for the race.

It’s a huge help for use to have Smile out there, said Neill Whiston after the racing.
We’re constantly trying to climb over the top of each other and in a month’s time no-one
is going to remember whether it was Fruit Machine or Smile that won this race or that.
It’s going to be whether Australia won of lost.