18.05.2002
Latest news from KINGFISHER in the Regatta Rubicon : LEG ONE

Kingfisher plc, a leading European retailer, is the title Sponsor of
Ellen MacArthur.
Read all the news about Ellen & Team Kingfisher at
http://www.teamkingfisher.com

* JUST 2 HOURS BEFORE THE FINISH LINE was crossed,
 KINGFISHER ripped part of the indexsail track (the aluminium track which
  is attached to the mast, on which the indexsail is hoisted on) off during
   the final gybe as they lined up for the Marina Rubicon finish....
   to take second place.

* BOBST GROUP / ARMOR LUX skippered by Swiss Bernard STAMM finished
just 40 minutes behind KINGFISHER...close enough to keep everyone
guessing right to the end, especially when the damage was reported
by Ellen just a few hours before the end.

* ELLEN : "Its been great to back out to sea, it was too long on land!
The team have been fantastic, we've worked really well together and even
when the position reports have lowered moral, we've bounced back each time.
You have to believe that anything can happen, and just never give up.
KINGFISHER is lighter and faster than before, and although we've had a
fair few technical issues on this leg, we've learnt a lot, and I'm really
confident in our ability for the big one - the Route du Rhum solo race in
 November"

* SILL skippered by Roland Jourdain (aka Bilou) secured victory by two
hours over KINGFISHER but admitted that in the early hours of this morning,
they thought that Ellen might have pulled it off with the more westerly
position. The Rhum is lining up already as a big head to head between the
friendly rivals, Ellen and Bilou - ever since their first race against
each other, the OSTAR in May 2000, these two boats have been like magnets
to each other...

* ITS A SHORT PITSTOP NOW IN LANZAROTE with a long work list for the team,
before a restart on Monday at 1700 - with Nick Moloney at the helm of
KINGFISHER and top professional sailor Herve JEAN joining the team for
Leg 2 to St.Marguerhita (near Genoa, Italy). The 2 leg event is scored on
 points - so there is certainly everything to gain still! Remember it
  was Moloney at the helm of KINGFISHER (with Herve Jean and Hendo in
  the crew) last summer that won them the EDS Atlantic Challenge against
   SILL...

* Meanwhile Ellen is dashing back to Calais, France to crew with Alain
Gautier on the 60 ft trimaran race, the 'Course des Phares' - keeping
her in touch with the trimaran scene for when she re-enters the year
 after next with a new KINGFISHER...

POSITIONS
Positions at 0900 GMT 18/05/2002
Regatta Rubicon map page : http://193.104.87.4/default_mono60.htm

1. Sill Plein Fruit : Jourdain, Finished 17/05 19:14:55 - Points 10
2. KINGFISHER : MacArthur, Finished 17/05 21:14:21 - Points 8
3. BOBST GROUP-ARMOR LUX : Bernard STAMM, Finished 17/05 21:54:00 -
 Points 7
4. TISCALI GLOBAL CHALLENGE : Simone BIANCHETTI, Finished 18/05 00:33:23 -
 points 6
5. VIRBAC : Jean Pierre DICK, Finished 18/05 02:11:36 - Points 5
6. TEMENOS : Dominique WAVRE, Finished 18/05 04:33:30 - Points 4
7. L'Heautontimoroumenos : Antoine KOCH, Finished 18/05 05:27:10 Points 3
8. ADECCO-ETOILE HORIZON : Bob ESCOFFIER, Retired due to rudder problems

Read all the news about Ellen & Team Kingfisher at
http://www.teamkingfisher.com

Official site of the race http://www.regataderubicon.com