| COWES, UNITED KINGDOM-(20-7-2003) Spain appear to be on the brink of winning the Admiral's Cup for the first time in the long history of the event, with their IMS 600 small boat Telefonica Movistar, skippered by Pedro Campos, provisionally having won it's class in the last race of the series.
Though finishing third across the line, behind Britain's Chernikeeff 4 and Australia's Aftershock, she initially appears to have won on handicap.
Chernikeeff 4, sailing for the Royal Ocean Racing Club Sailability team, crossed the finishing line at North Head - in the western Solent - at 19:12:46 this evening (Sunday), with Aftershock coming home at 19:16:27, while Telefonica Movistar finished at 19:17:59.
When the handicaps were worked out, first place went to the Spanish, representing the Real Club Nautico de Sangenjo, by seven and a half minutes from the RORC's Chernikeeff 4, with Aftershock third, two and a half minutes further back.
If this result is confirmed, then in the big boats, Australia must win, with Spain's Bribon Telefonica Movistar fourth or worse for the Aussie team from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club to claim the Cup.
In the meantime, it seems that the big boats are storming up the English Channel, with Australia's Wild Oats believed to be leading on the water by about three hours, though it is thought she will need at least a four hour margin to win on handicap.
The Australians reported that they were generally making about 16 knots, but had experienced bursts of up to 24 knots - with the tide recently turned against them it is still all to be played for.
King Juan Carlos of Spain raced on Bribon Telefonica Movistar for the first four races of the series, and then had to return to Spain for official engagements, he is due back in Cowes for the prize giving ceremony which has been rescheduled for 1700 hrs on Tuesday evening.
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