#99 Fountain target smooth path to title

Friday 26 September 2008

The #99 Fountain Worldwide team are aiming to win a second Evolution class title in Portugal

#99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com pilot James Sheppard says the team is treating the Portuguese Grand Prix of the Sea like any other race. The British-based Evolution-class crew are bidding to successfully defend their 2007 title in this weekend’s season finale, and need just 60 points more than #60 GFN Gibellato.

The #99 Fountain Worldwide team of Sheppard and team-boss/throttleman Craig Wilson won last year’s Evolution class title at the 2007 season finale, here in Portimao, after a late start to the year. In 2008, though, the team have had to work much harder as the competition has closed the gap and raised their game to match #99 Fountain Worldwide’s standard-setting pace and professionalism.

“We’re treating this weekend like any other race,” Sheppard said. “We’ll operate the best we can for the whole two days. We just have to race the boat. It was fantastic to win the title last year, but that hasn’t produced a laissez-faire attitude. We have but one way to go after last year, so – for me – there’s some more stress.

“I’d like to do this again for the entire team. We are a very well jelled team. Craig and I get all the visibility, but it is every member of our team working together and doing the job to perfection.”