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Richard Oland wins a Rolex in St. Thomas



12:51 AM Thu 1 Apr 2010 GMT
'Richard Oland (Vela Veloce) receives his Rolex for his win in IRC at the 2010 Rolex Cup Regatta' Guy Perrin Click Here to view large photo
Richard Oland was pretty excited on Sunday night; he showed up at the Rolex Cup Regatta awards ceremony at the St. Thomas Yacht Club not wearing a watch on his wrist... He picked up a new Rolex for his win in the IRC division.

His Southern Cross 52, Vela Veloce, with Brian Ledbetter driving, posted a final score of 13 points to beat out Austin and Gwen Fragomen's (New York, N.Y.) TP 52 Interlodge. The two 52-footers fought a tight battle throughout the 3-day 6-races event.

'It's pleasing to come from Canada to the Islands and be up against these world players,' said Oland about his first-ever experience racing at the International Rolex Regatta. 'I already have a Rolex watch, but this one is better,' he added with a grin, after the awards presentation. Ledbetter, who won an Olympic silver medal in the Finn class at the 1992 Olympics, called the three days of racing 'magical' compared to the windward/leeward racing he is used to doing.

IRC Results (IRC - 8 Boats)

1. Vela Veloce, Southern Cross 52 52', Richard Oland, Rothesay, NB, CAN - 3, 1, 2, 2, 1, 4, ; 13
2. Interlodge, JV 52 52, Austin and Gwen Fragomen, Newport, RI, USA - 1, 2, 1, 4, 4, 3, ; 15
3. White Heat, Summit 40 39.72 ft, Michael Williamson, London, London, UK - 2, 5, 5, 3, 2, 2, ; 19
4. Equation, Andrews 68 68, Bill Alcott, St. Clair Shores, MI, USA - 6, 4, 4, 1, 7, 1, ; 23
5. Otra Vez, J 122 40, William Coates, Bellaire, TX, USA - 4, 3, 3, 6, 3, 8, ; 27
6. Oystercatcher XXVI, Humphreys 42 12.78, Richard Matthews, Ipswich, Suffolk, GBR - 5, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5, ; 32
7. Long Echo, NYYC Swan 42 42, Barry Sampson, W. Sussex, England, England - 7, 8, 7, 8, 6, 6, ; 42
8. Donnybrook, Custom Sloop 72 72, James P. Muldoon, Washington, DC, USA - 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, ; 45




by Guy Perrin




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