Coutts Wins 12-meter World Sailing Championship

Russell Coutts secured the 12- meter world sailing championship in his boat South Australia with a race to spare on Friday.cowes

Although the Swiss skipper produced his worst result of the series, finishing fourth, he now has an unbeatable seven-point overall whatever happens in Saturday's last race.

The surprise winner of Friday's race was Ecosse, skippered by Irvine Laidlaw, a boat that has never before shown any great form.

Richard Matthews guided Crusader into second place in the race, ahead of Australia II, which in 1983 became the first boat to win the America's Cup from the New York Yacht Club.

Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, is in second place overall, three points clear of Team New Zealand's Kiwi Magic.

Coutts said they had completely re-tuned the boat since chartering it, and it had improved the performance dramatically.






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