Area Skipper Leads in World 1000 Race

Despite falling overboard and capsizing, Randy Smyth of Huntington Beach, with crewman Kevin Burnham, led the World 1000 1,000-mile race for small catamarans after the first of 12 legs 106 miles from Key Biscayne Wednesday.

Smyth was in the lead when he fell off and grabbed the spinnaker, capsizing the boat. While Smyth and Burnham paddled to shore to right the boat, the Australian team of Bret Dryland and Rod Waterhouse passed them but then sailed 10 miles past this first checkpoint and wound up sixth for the day.