Race 2 of the 2024 Sixt Spring 18 footer Championship was conducted by the Australian 18 Footers League on Sydney Harbour today when 16 of the club’s teams faced the start in a 8-12 knot north-east wind, which produced much more suitable racing conditions than the 22+-knots southerly winds that battered the fleet in Race 1 of the series last Sunday.
The race lived up to expectations and held the spectators interest to the end as there were several changes in the leading group throughout the entire course when the handicap system took effect on each of the three laps.
Downwind speed and consistent crew work over the complete course proved a winning formula for the Vaikobi team of Kirk Mitchell, Andrew Stephenson and Daniel Barnett as they raced home a 27s winner over the early race leader Smeg (Nathan McNamara, Jed Cruikshank and Jack Taylor).
Balmain (Henry Larkings, Miles Davey and Flynn Twomey) came back from seventh place at the end of the second lap and was another team to show outstanding downwind form to finish in third place, a further 31s behind Smeg.
Finport Finance (Keagan York) was fourth, followed by Rag & Famish Hotel (Harry Price), Burrawang-Young Henrys (Simon Nearn), Yandoo (John Winning), Sixt (Jacob Marks) and The Kitchen Maker (Lachlan Steel).
After the first two races of the six-race series, Vaikobi (4 points) holds a narrow lead over last week’s winner Rag & Famish Hotel on six points, followed by Balmain on 8, Burrawang-Young Henrys on 10, Sixt 14, The Kitchen Maker 16, Smeg 18, Lazarus (Tom Cunich) 19, Finport Finance 20 and Yandoo on 23 points.
There is NO DISCARD in this series.
Smeg took a narrow lead over Vaikobi soon after the start and the race for the leading group to the weather mark was close as Rag & Famish Hotel and Yandoo began to move through the fleet, along with Lazarus.
The Rag grabbed the lead from Smeg as the fleet approached the weather marks for the first time but The Rag had to go to the further (to the ‘red’ mark) so Smeg was first, 40s ahead of Lazarus (both went to the ‘blue’ mark) as spinnakers were set for the run to the wing mark south of Shark Island.
Sixt had also moved up towards the lead and was third, ahead of Rag & Famish Hotel and Finport Finance.
Smeg continued to hold a clear lead over Lazarus as the fleet rounded the Shark Island mark and headed for the bottom mark near Clark Island. Vaikobi was already showing her good downwing speed and began to edge closer to the lead.
Just as things looked settled as the fleet approached the bottom mark, the race turned ‘upside down’ when Smeg and Sixt were among boats which went to the wrong rounding mark.
The Lazarus team was quick to take advantage of the situation and took the lead away from Smeg as the pair headed back to the weather marker buoys at the Beashel Buoy, and established a 30s lead as spinnakers were set again for the run back to Clark Island.
The lead changed once more, soon after when Lazarus capsized and Smeg was again in control. This time her margin was 20s over Vaikobi, followed by Finport Finance, Yandoo, Burrawang-Young Henrys, Rag & Famish Hotel and Sixt.
Smeg retained her lead on the long spinnaker run but Vaikobi was now only 5s behind and putting pressure on the Smeg team. Finport Finance was 20s further back and making inroads but the two leaders were holding strong as the trio worked their way back to the final set of marker buoys.
Smeg and Vaikobi were both headed for the ‘white’ buoy and held an advantage over Finport Finance and The Rag which had to go to ‘red’. Burrawang-Young Henrys had sailed a very consistent race and was still within the leading six boats and held a slight advantage as that team was going to the ‘blue’ (shorter) mark on this lap.
When Vaikobi headed for home, under spinnaker, with a 12s advantage over Smeg, she was in a powerful position and produced another fast run to score an impressive victory .
The MarkSetBot robotic sailing buoys system was used for the first time in a 3-buoys 18 footer race on Sydney Harbour today and was a winner as it provided greater handicap accuracy for the entire fleet.
Today’s result sheet, together with images from the race, are attached.
Next Sunday the Australian 18 Footers League will conduct Race 2 of the Club Championship together with Race 3 of the Sixt Spring Championship for the Eric Bowen Memorial Trophy.-
The Club’s regular spectator ferry will follow the race, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2pm, and SailMedia will livestream all the action.
Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.
