Second false start fears for regatta

A regatta that has already struggled to get off the mark was dealt another massive blow last night as the international jury at the Glenfiddich Gold Cup in Barcelona considered throwing out the only race so far completed by the 47 Melges 24s from 10 countries.

There had been no racing on the opening day as the breeze off the Olympic port refused to arrive and the competitors were in no mood to be disciplined at the start yesterday. So, after two attempts which had to be abandoned for a general recall, the race officer raised a warning black flag promising immediate disqualification for any miscreant.

First to the top mark was the Tornado sailor Rob White, who had to sail with a crew of three rather than four since they took 306 of the maximum 345.5 kilos and could not find a fourth crewman weighing less than 40kg. But making the best of the conditions was an American, Dave Chapin, Florida- based but racing a Melges out of Annapolis.

Second was the local man Luis-Martinez Doreste, with the now 60-year- old Olympic silver medallist Keith Musto carrying British colours into third. But the rules-conscious British then pointed out that several boats had been in the triangle of the course illegally after the five-minute warning and should be disqualified, raising the possibility of no results for the second day running.