Russell Peters sailing DBS in the opening round of the Hoya Vision Care Ultra 30 Grand Prix Series started the 1999 season as he left off last year, taking an overall lead at the end of the first day in Sunderland. Winning the port end at all three starts Kevin Sproul, skipper aboard Star Alliance, was able to dominate the favoured left-hand side leading at the windward mark in every race.

Newcomer to the fleet, Rob Greenhalgh, skippering Team David McLean is however pressing Peters hard and claims “We should be able to give them a tougher time tomorrow.” Greenhalgh’s moment of glory came in Race 1 when Peters’ jib ripped into several pieces on the penultimate run. Despite swift action by his support boat in providing him with a replacement sail (this is allowed under the rules of Ultra 30 racing) and even quicker work by his bow crew in getting the new sail buttoned on before the leeward mark Greenhalgh powered over the top to take victory.

Sunderland is the first venue on the Hoya Vision Care Ultra 30 Grand Prix Circuit which then moves to Portsmouth on July 3rd and 4th with the final round staged in Guernsey from the 3rd – 5th of September.

This is the fourth year that Hoya Vision Care has been involved in the Ultra 30 Circuit, which is supported by BBC Grandstand. Designed as a spectator sport, the Series remains the only televised race circuit on the BBC, a testament to the entertainment value and excitement this class offers. Leading international yachtsman take part including national and world champions and past and future Olympic contenders, many of whom have competed in the toughest races in the world.

In third place International Match Race Champion, Eddie Warden Owen steering the brand new Team Hoya Ultra 30, improved as the day went on adding two 3rd places to his 5th place in the first Race. Kevin Sproul lies 4th,at least in part due to losing one of his crewmen, Ian Nicholson, overboard during the first Race. Nicholson was lucky not to be injured and even luckier not to be run down in the water by the closely pursuing United Airlines.