Cowes 28 June 2008. Any hopes of a repeat win for Atomic, the Langley group’s race yacht in this year’s JPMorgan Round the Island race were dashed just minutes before the start when Hugo Boss, the Open 60 with Formula One superstar Lewis Hamilton on board, mistimed a passing manoeuvre behind and took out Atomic’s back-stay, bringing the mast and rigging crashing down to end the day before it began for Atomic’s 12 strong crew.
Atomic, sporting new comer to the organisation, Bradman Lake livery was in great shape coming into the event; the boat had been performing well, Olympic yachtsman Hugh Styles was on board in the role of tactician and chairman Tony Langley at the helm was “quietly confident” of a repeating Atomic’s convincing win of the prestigious Class Zero in 2006.
Hugo Boss Disqualified
Hugo Boss, with World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist dingy sailor Ben Ainsley at the helm, went on to win the Open 60’s race, but was disqualified after hearing Atomic’s protest. A subsequent appeal by Hugo Boss against the decision by the committee of international judges was also dismissed.
That’s yacht racing
Commenting on the incident later, Tony Langley said:
Obviously we are hugely disappointed at being deprived of the chance to regain our title but yacht racing at this level is very high octane and mistakes often cost dearly but Ben did apologise when I saw him in the protest room and I have no doubt that it was unintentional. Ben’s a great guy and I wish him well in Beijing.
Apparently it was Lewis’s first time out and he was really wowed by the whole thing and can’t wait to do it again. Funnily enough, just before someone said jokingly “don’t let Hamilton get behind” and the next thing we knew, BANG!”
Atomic
– minutes before the collision with
Hugo Boss
For how the
Sunday Times reported the incident
click here
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