UBS TROPHY
Spectacular Regatta Ends with BMOR Wins

BMW ORACLE Racing won both the owner-driver and pro-driver series with two wins on the final day of racing in Newport on Saturday.

Am back home in Hamburg now (Monday afternoon) tired but elated with the success of the regatta, both on and off the water. Here is a spectaular photo captured by one of the gang of five attending from Ann Arbor, Barb Johnson. And I haven't seen this shot from any of the many pro photogs who were covering the event. Nice work, Barb!



The incident was perhaps the most exciting, and scary, moment of the week. BMOR rounded the windward mark barely ahead of Alinghi, and our kite exploded when it filled in the strong winds of that afternoon. Moments after this shot was taken, Alinghi's kite filled, then they were luffed by our guys, Alinghi's kite also exploded, our bowman was thrown overboard, Alinghi was penalized for failing to keep clear of us, and we were given a penalty for using outside assistance (our chase boat) to pluck our bowman out of the water and return him, fortunately unharmed, to the boat. As in hockey, penalties are offsetting (cancel out), and it was an exciting and very close race to the finish, won by BMOR.