The victory is Law’s first on the Swedish Match Tour and comes just one year after the 50 year old ended a two-year "retirement" from professional racing. In claiming the UBS Challenge title Law not only outdueled Baird but also bested the nine America’s Cup America's Cup #AmericasCup affiliated crews assembled this week.

"My life seems to be very charmed at this time," understated Law. "I’ve enjoyed all the hospitality this week and really feel like I’m now picking the cherry off the cake and the only question I can ask is `Why me ?"

The answer is, quite clearly, because Law and his crew of Tucker Thompson, Dobbs Davis and Jeff Brock managed to expertly navigate the waters of Newport Harbor and outfox their opponents.

For Baird, it is the second time he has finished as a runner-up at a Swedish Match Tour event, previously coming in second to Denmark’s Jesper Radich at this past May’s Match Race Germany. 

"We led in all three races which is indicative of the great effort by my team," said Baird. "Chris and his Outlaws had a great week. They beat us in the round robin and in the finals. We fought hard but it didn’t work out for us this time."

His second place finish this week moves Baird up to second on the Swedish Match Tour 2002/3 Rankings just one point behind OneWorld Challenge’s James Spithill who sits on 31 points following his seventh place finish here this week.

In finals action, Law won the start of the first match of the finals but Baird sent him out to the right, past the layline allowing Baird to assume control. Law through a series of ducks and dives then rallied back from being three boat lengths behind on the leeward mark rounding to being ahead by one and a half boat lengths to claim the match.

In the second match Law copped a penalty in the pre-start for not responding quickly enough when Baird headed him up. On the first upwind leg both boats dialed up with each infringing and being assessed matching penalties for their troubles. From there, Baird broke away and built a big lead which he was able to protect to the very end, to tie the series up 1-1.

Following the second match the decision was made by the race committee to shorten the finals to first-to-two-points over concerns of completing racing by the 6:30pm deadline. As a result the course was lengthened to three laps instead of the usual two and the finalists set off for the winner-take-all final match.

Match three began with a dial up with Law being able to maintain the starboard advantage. The two boats crossed the line on a split tack with Law slightly extended above Baird for the initial upperhand. Baird kept it close drawing even but Law countered by taking the air out of Baird’s spinnaker, rolling over on top of him and assuming lead of no more than a couple of meters at the leeward mark rounding.

Oscillating breezes resulted in a course change with the new windward mark being laid 75 meters to the left of the original. Law had the better line at this point and he built his lead from this point, essentially ending the match and claiming the crown.

In the petit finals OneWorld Challenge skipper Peter Gilmour and his Pizza La team put on a textbook match racing demonstration to sweep past Mascalzone Latino’s Paolo Cian 2-0, to claim the $12,000 third place prize.

In semifinal action, Gilmour, the top qualifier from Group A, was upset by Baird 2-0. Gilmour, sailing aggressively as ever, copped a penalty in his first match at the leeward mark rounding to cement his fate and put Baird up 1-0. In the second match, Gilmour’s aggressiveness again proved to be his Achilles Heel as he was flagged for another penalty after battling back against Baird.

"We didn’t get what we wanted and whatever Morgan (Larson, tactician) called, Ed seemed to be getting to first," said Gilmour. "We’re disappointed, but pleased with our performance here this week."

In the other semifinal Cian put Law to work. After winning the first match Law was assessed a penalty for having his spinnaker pole out while sailing upwind. The penalty gave the Mascalzone Latino crew the opening it needed to steal the match and stave off elimination. In the third match, however, Law used his years of experience to out-duel his opponent and advance to his first Swedish Match Tour final.

The Swedish Match Tour’s next event is the Danish Open 2002 beginning August 14, north of Copenhagen.

FINAL UBS CHALLENGE STANDINGS
 1.Chris Law, Great Britain/The Outlaws   $35,000
 2.Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto  $18,000
 3.Peter Gilmour, USA/Team Pizza La  $12,000
 4.Paolo Cian, Mascalzone Latino $9,000
 5. Ken Read, Team Dennis Conner $8,000
 6. Andy Green, GBR Challenge $7,000
 7. James Spithill, OneWorld Challenge $6,000
 8. Jes Gram-Hansen, DEN/Team Victory Lane $5,000

SWEDISH MATCH TOUR 2002/2003 RANKINGS 
 1. James Spithill, One World Challenge 31 points
 2. Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto 30
 3.Chris Law, Great Britain/The Outlaws 20
 Jesper Radich, Denmark 20
 5. Jes Gram-Hansen, DEN/Team Victory Lane 19
 6.Peter Gilmour, USA/Team Pizza La 15
 7. Paolo Cian, Mascalzone Latino 12
 Karol Jablonski, POL/MK Café Sailing 12

Information http://www.swedishmatchtour.com