Great Britain's Law wins Swedish Match UBS Challenge

by Jennifer McHugh on 5 Aug 2002 Great Britain’s Chris Law and his Outlaws defeated American Ed Baird and Team Musto, 2-1, in a thrilling three-match final to win the Swedish Match Tour’s inaugural UBS Challenge today in Newport, RI.

The victory is Law’s first on the Swedish Match Tour and comes just one year after the 50 year old ended a two-year “retirement” from professional
racing. In claiming the UBS Challenge title Law not only outdueled Baird but also bested the nine America’s Cup affiliated crews assembled this week.

“My life seems to be very charmed at this time,” understated Law. “I’ve enjoyed all the hospitality this week and really feel like I’m now picking the
cherry off the cake and the only question I can ask is `Why me?”

The answer is, quite clearly, because Law and his crew of Tucker Thompson, Dobbs Davis and Jeff Brock managed to expertly navigate the waters of
Newport Harbor and outfox their opponents.

For Baird, it is the second time he has finished as a runner-up at a Swedish Match Tour event, previously coming in second to Denmark’s Jesper Radich at
this past May’s Match Race Germany.

“We led in all three races which is indicative of the great effort by my team,” said Baird. “Chris and his Outlaws had a great week. They beat us in the
round robin and in the finals. We fought hard but it didn’t work out for us this time.”

His second place finish this week moves Baird up to second on the Swedish Match Tour 2002/3 Rankings just one point behind OneWorld Challenge’s
James Spithill who sits on 31 points following his seventh place finish here this week.

In finals action, Law won the start of the first match of the finals but Baird sent him out to the right, past the layline allowing Baird to assume control.
Law through a series of ducks and dives then rallied back from being three boat lengths behind on the leeward mark rounding to being ahead by one and
a half boat lengths to claim the match.

In the second match Law copped a penalty in the pre-start for not responding quickly enough when Baird headed him up. On the first upwind leg both
boats dialed up with each infringing and being assessed matching penalties for their troubles. From there, Baird broke away and built a big lead which he
was able to protect to the very end, to tie the series up 1-1.

Following the second match the decision was made by the race committee to shorten the finals to first-to-two-points over concerns of completing racing by
the 6:30pm deadline. As a result the course was lengthened to three laps instead of the usual two and the finalists set off for the winner-take-all final
match.

Match three began with a dial up with Law being able to maintain the starboard advantage. The two boats crossed the line on a split tack with Law
slightly extended above Baird for the initial upperhand. Baird kept it close drawing even but Law countered by taking the air out of Baird’s spinnaker,
rolling over on top of him and assuming lead of no more than a couple of meters at the leeward mark rounding.

Oscillating breezes resulted in a course change with the new windward mark being laid 75 meters to the left of the original. Law had the better line at
this point and he built his lead from this point, essentially ending the match and claiming the crown.

In the petit finals OneWorld Challenge skipper Peter Gilmour and his Pizza La team put on a textbook match racing demonstration to sweep past
Mascalzone Latino’s Paolo Cian 2-0, to claim the $12,000 third place prize.

In semifinal action, Gilmour, the top qualifier from Group A, was upset by Baird 2-0. Gilmour, sailing aggressively as ever, copped a penalty in his first
match at the leeward mark rounding to cement his fate and put Baird up 1-0. In the second match, Gilmour’s aggressiveness again proved to be his
Achilles Heel as he was flagged for another penalty after battling back against Baird.

“We didn’t get what we wanted and whatever Morgan (Larson, tactician) called, Ed seemed to be getting to first,” said Gilmour. “We’re disappointed,
but pleased with our performance here this week.”

In the other semifinal Cian put Law to work. After winning the first match Law was assessed a penalty for having his spinnaker pole out while sailing
upwind. The penalty gave the Mascalzone Latino crew the opening it needed to steal the match and stave off elimination. In the third match, however,
Law used his years of experience to out-duel his opponent and advance to his first Swedish Match Tour final.

The Swedish Match Tour’s next event is the Danish Open 2002 beginning August 14, north of Copenhagen.

FINAL UBS CHALLENGE STANDINGS

Skipper

1.Chris Law, Great Britain/The Outlaws $35,000

2.Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto $18,000

3.Peter Gilmour, USA/Team Pizza La $12,000

4.Paolo Cian, Mascalzone Latino $9,000

5. Ken Read, Team Dennis Conner $8,000

6. Andy Green, GBR Challenge $7,000

7. James Spithill, OneWorld Challenge $6,000

8. Jes Gram-Hansen, DEN/Team Victory Lane $5,000



SWEDISH MATCH TOUR 2002/2003 RANKINGS

Skipper Points

1. James Spithill, One World Challenge 31

2. Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto 30

3.Chris Law, Great Britain/The Outlaws 20

Jesper Radich, Denmark 20

5. Jes Gram-Hansen, DEN/Team Victory Lane 19

6.Peter Gilmour, USA/Team Pizza La 15

7. Paolo Cian, Mascalzone Latino 12

Karol Jablonski, POL/MK Café Sailing 12



Finals Results

Flight 1

Law def. Baird



Flight 2

Baird def. Law



Flight 3

Law def. Baird



Petit Finals Results

Flight 1

Gilmour def. Cian



Flight 2

Gilmour def. Cian



Semifinals Results

Flight 1

Baird def. Gilmour

Law def. Cian



Flight 2

Baird def. Gilmour

Cian def. Law



Flight 3

Law def. Cian

For all the latest news and results from the UBS Challenge Finals log on to

www.swedishmatchtour.com.