Race one of the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore and race two of the Grant Thornton Short Haul Pointscore Series was contested today in rough and choppy conditions just outside the Heads. While the wind was nowhere near as strong as it has been over the last three days, the consistent southerly wind had whipped up a sizable swell.
In the 48th Rubber Kellaway Plate, Middle Harbour Yacht Club took care of race management with PRO, Steve Tucker happy with the first race of the series.
“Everyone got off to a clean start in about 10-12 knots,” Tucker said. “A couple of boats started in the wrong division but other than that we set them off on Course A which is a triangle, sausage course. The conditions were pretty lumpy all day but everyone managed.”
Howard Piggott’s Flying Cloud took out Division 1 PHS in the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore and enjoyed the conditions the Harbour offered.
“The day developed into a perfect day, there was constant pressure and opportunities for everyone to improve up wind,” immediate past CYCA Commodore, Howard Piggott said. “The breeze really strengthened later in the day and we hit about 18 knots with our spinnaker up. “It was a really good course and a great day for racing.”
Amante (Dennis Cooper) finished second in PHS Division 1 with Khaleesi (Andrew and Pauline Dally) coming in third.
In IRC Division 1 Imagination (Robin Hawthorn) won, just two minutes clear of Khaleesi and Flying Cloud who tied for second.
In Division 2 PHS Peach Teats Velocity (Brian Carrick) negotiated the choppy waters from a clean start to take the win.
“We had a great start, won the start easily, great run to Lady Bay and out the Heads,” Carrick said. We had a few contesting wind changes but stayed with the big rig and had two really good spinnaker runs. We are really pleased with the result as it is our first race in choppy conditions; we are all a little bit accustom to the flat waters that greeted us during the Land Rover Winter Series, so it was nice to come away with the win.”
Alpha Carinae (Damian Barker) finished second with Paul Thompson and Bryan Moore finishing third with their Northshore 369, Shibumi.
Race two of the Grant Thornton Short Haul Pointscore Spinnaker Division was taken out by debutant entrant Macscap (Peter McClelland) with Jubilee (Ian Arthy) coming in second ahead of Bill Mirow’s Privateer.
“It was the first time we have done a short haul race, we didn’t know what to expect but it was very pleasant conditions,” first timer Peter McClelland said. “We got a bit lucky in a couple places back up the Harbour but had a fantastic day and very much look forward to the rest of the series.”
Ian Arthy was also pleased to come in second and to retain a lead in the overall pointscore after two races.
“We were extremely excited with the result of today and would like to maintain the pointscore series lead,” Arthy commented. “The conditions today really suited us and my crew of: Kat Meyers, Alan Lusty and Paul Crowther did an amazing job, it really was a great day.”
Non Spinnaker Division was won by One More-No More (Ian Guanaria) with Crosshaven (Justin Pelly and Sean Rahilly) second and Greg Mason and Barb Maun’s Sinewave rounding off the podium places.
For full race results CLICK HERE
Race two of the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Pointscore will take place on Saturday October 24 with the third race of the Grant Thornton Short Haul setting sail on Saturday October 10.
To enter CLICK HERE
