Aussie sailor wins Cento Cup - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Aussie sailor wins Cento Cup

By James Dampney 16/06/2003 07:05:22 PM Comments (0)

Former America's Cup skipper James Spithill won the Pedrini Cento Cup in Italy, leaving the current world No.1 match-racer in his wake.

The 23-year-old Sydneysider skippered an all Australian crew to defeat American Ed Baird 3-1 on Italy's Lake Garda.

The youngest ever America's Cup skipper with Young Australia as a 19-year-old in 1999, Spithill defeated world No.1 Karol Jablonski of Poland in the semi-finals.

Joe Newton (QLD), Andy Fethers (WA) and Ben Durham (WA) made up Spithill's crew.

He has now recorded two first places, two seconds and a third from five Grade One events overseas this season.

His father Arthur was pleased with his son's effort, which came against seven of the world's top 10 match racers.

"There was a particularly good field at that event," Spithill senior said.

"It doesn't get much tougher than that."

Spithill, who is currently ranked 16th, will be "well up into that top 10" when the latest rankings are released, his father said.

After his victory, Spithill headed to Trieste, Italy to compete in the Nations Cup, in a field including six of the 10 syndicates from the last America's Cup.

Spithill was a member of the OneWorld syndicate that made an unsuccessful bid for this year's Cup.

His father confirmed Spithill was already in discussions with various syndicates for the 2007 event.

"Yes, he's in talks with a couple of syndicates at the moment," he said.

"I think he'll be with quite a good team this time."

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