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21 June 2006, 08:09 am

Bella Mente Takes Line

Newport Bermuda Race 2006

Hamilton, Bermuda

Bella Mente, the JV66 owned by Hap FAUTH (USA) did a horizon job on the 264 boat fleet and crossed the finish line off St David's Lighthouse in Hamilton, Bermuda at 15:12:18 EDT (19:12:18 UTC) yesterday. The spectacular performance upset all predictions of a Maximus line honours victory in the Centennial Newport Bermuda Race.

Bella Mente led the light air contest for much of the 635 mile course that started from Newport, Rhode Island, USA on last Friday afternoon 16 June. The yacht chose to go down the west side of the rhumb line and found favourable current and better wind to carry them into Bermuda well ahead of Alchemy and Kodiak II, their nearest class rivals.

Belle Mente is first to finish, but the skipper and crew must now wait to see how the other competitors in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division correct their time against Belle Mente's finish. The corrected time trophy is a silver replica of Bermuda's Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.

Richard SHULMAN's (USA) Temptress, an IMX 45 from Jamestown, may be within striking distance to grab the corrected time victory and the elegant silver Gibbs Hill Lighthouse trophy. Time will tell.