BARLO PLASTICS have agreed to sponsor the British Admiral's Cup team 2001 as well as backing Adrian Stead's boat, the IC 45 Indulgence.

The Belgium-based plastics sheet manufacturer first teamed up with Stead in 1999 ahead of the Admiral's Cup that year when a deal was struck to allow the Hampshire skipper to campaign a Mumm 36.

A successful campaign strengthened the relationship and the company agreed to sponsor Stead in a Mumm 30 in the Tour Voile 2000.

It was his first time in the event but he and his crew enjoyed a resounding victory over the month-long event.

Barlo Plastics managing director Andre de Smet, himself a cruising sailor, agreed he was impressed by this performance.

He said: "Adrian assembled an incredible team and deserves the highest praise for winning the event in such an outstanding manner."

Other sponsors are being signed for the other two British Admiral's Cup boats and will be announced in the New Year, with one expected to be Ian Walker and Andy Beadsworth backers, United Airlines in the Sydney 40 class.

In the Farr 40s, an array of famous faces are expected to line up for contention with nine entries vying for the British spot.

They will compete in a series of inshore and offshore races which will have a different points multiplier.

They include a Cowes to Dartmouth race, a mid-Solent inshore and an Admiral's Cup Channel Race Style Offshore on June 2.

Said selector Bill Edgerton, the RYA keelboat coach: "A number of talented sailors who have come up through the RYA programmes up to the Team GBR from Sydney 2000 have shown a real interest in the Farr 40 campaigns.

"This will raise the standard of the trials and of the Barlo Plastics British Team who hope to end a decade of coming so near yet so far in the Admiral's Cup winning stakes."