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26 April 2005, 01:40 pm

POPE Grabs IOD Lead

Bermuda International Invitational Race Week 2005

Hamilton, Bermuda

After three bullets Jon POPE (USA) powered into the lead of the IOD "A" series and in the overall standings after two days and six races of the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week sponsored by Bacardi.

Winds up to 21 knots greeted sailors on Bermuda's Great Sound. The different conditions were perfect for POPE's perfect day but Charles VAN VOORHIS is only five points behind. Coming from the Fisher's Island fleet, VAN VOORHIS is a past world and Bermuda Race week winner and an early favourite.

J24 action was keen with boats surfing down waves driven by the 20+ knot north westerly. On the first beat of the day's first race, former Bermuda resident Dave ALLEN broke a starboard shroud and the mast fell to the deck immediately. ALLEN's San Francisco crew gather the pieces and saved the sails from damage, so they will be back on Tuesday to complete the series.

Tony PARKER (USA) took the lead in the close J24 competition with nine points after six races. Todd OLSON of Bermuda is second with 13 points and Mike LEWIS of Bermuda is third with 17. Just a point outside the top three is Canadian Sean McDERMOTT.

San Francisco J105 skipper Tom COATES (USA) celebrated a perfect birthday on the day with three more bullets and a perfect score of five points after six races (one drop allowed). Canadian John McLEOD leads the battle for the next two prizes with 13 points. The BLEWIN/WILLIAMS team has 15 and CLOUTIER/BARBOZA follow with 16.

Peter BROMBY (BER) kept up his winning ways in the International Etchells Class taking first in the day's only race for them. Tim PATTON and Tim LYNCH follow in a nine-point tie. BROMBY, with crew Dennis CORREIA and Andreas LEWIN, stayed in the lead from start to finish and now have five points with five races to go in the class.

On the dinghy course Bermudians Brett WRIGHT, Malcolm SMITH and Sara LANE ADDERLY continued to dominate the 16-boat fleet. Stephen IRGENS, Leo MURPHY and Ray PITTMAN lead the Snipes. MURPHY who is a Snipe class tradition himself won his first race week race on the day.