Sailing: Edwards Stole Race Idea, Says Rival

The French round-the-world yachtsman Bruno Peyron has launched legal proceedings against the British yachtswoman Tracy Edwards, claiming that she stole his idea of a non-stop, no-limits race around the globe.

Peyron, who recently saw his round-the-world record broken by the American Steve Fossett, argues that two competitions planned by Edwards, with backing from the Gulf state of Qatar, for 2005 and 2006 are copies of his 2001 The Race. Peyron and The Race organisation are suing Edwards and three of her companies - Maiden Ocean Racing Qatar Ltd, Maiden Ocean Racing Ltd and Maiden Two Ltd - for damages over "unfair competition and prejudice caused" to any future editions of The Race.

French sources say Peyron was forced last October to cancel the second edition of The Race, planned to start from Marseille in February this year, because several competitors, Edwards included, had withdrawn to take part in her rival event.

The Race organisation, which was not available for comment yesterday, waited until this month to announce that the first court hearing had taken place in France in February. Edwards confirmed this and added that the case was adjourned until September. "We are confident that Mr Peyron does not have a leg to stand on," she said.