2010 BMW Auckland Regatta

Winds gusting over 30 knots tested the competitors in the opening day
of the BMW Auckland Regatta today and saw one of the hot favourites in
the open multihull division capsize.

Frantic Drift, skippered by Olympic sailor Dan Salter with Nathan
Handley and two up-and-coming Olympic class sailors Blair Tuke and
Peter Burling on board was flipped coming into the finish of the
opening race.

The yacht ended upside down in the water. With help from two umpire
boats, Frantic Drift was righted again. Nobody was injured and the
yacht was soon under tow back to Westhaven.

"Conditions were certainly testing," said regatta director Ross
Markwick of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. "The sailors had
their hands full in gusty conditions, but we saw some outstanding
displays of seamanship."

Racing comprised a course from Northern Leading to Eastern Beach,
followed by windward leewards. Sixty yachts in nine divisions are
competing in the regatta, which continues tomorrow and finishes on
Sunday.

Three races were completed today and the provisional results on
General Handicap have the following yachts leading their divisions:
A Div: BMW Yachtsport
B Div: Sure Thing
C Div: Azure
D Div: Cool Change
E Div: Tiago Iti
Open multihull: Taeping
8.5m multihull: Lucifer
Y88: Slipstream III

For full results, please see the event website:
www.bmwaucklandregatta.co.nz

Racing this weekend will take place off Northern Leading and Eastern
Beach and will comprise a mix of windward-leeward courses and harbour
courses. 2010 BMW AUCKLAND REGATTA
MEDIA RELEASE

QUOTES FROM DANIEL SLATER, SKIPPER OF FRANTIC DRIFT, AFTER THEIR
OPENING DAY CAPSIZE.

"We were just coming in to the finish of the opening race. It was all
on. We were doing 24 knots when we cartwheeled the boat. Nathan
Handley and I both cleared the forestay as we flew through the air.
The yacht ended up totally upside down. Luckily nobody was injured.
"With the help of a couple of umpire boats, we got the boat upright
and were just getting sailing again when a lashing attaching the main
shroud on the starboard side of the mast broke, bringing the mast
down. So we ended up having to be towed back to Westhaven.
"We will not be able to continue racing in the regatta, but we are
about to do a major modification of Frantic Drift, with new floats and
foils, which will be similar to the shapes on the BMW ORACLE Racing
trimaran in the America's Cup."


For full results, please see the event website:
www.bmwaucklandregatta.co.nz

The BMW Auckland Regatta is followed by the Auckland Festival of
Sailing which comprises a series of on and off the water events
including the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta, the Louis Vuitton
Trophy Auckland, the BMW Sailing Cup World Final and the Auckland
International Boat Show.