YACHTING NEWS
HE MIGHT be the one of the oldest and most revered offshore skippers in the country, but the fire still burns brightly for 79-year-old Lou Abrahams from Sandringham Yacht Club. He showed the Victorian keelboat fleet competing in the Club Marine Range Series.
For a record fifth time in ten years, a Lou Abrahams-owned Challenge keelboat has won this prestigious regatta.
Accepting the overall winners trophy in July before nearly 200 people at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Lou – who turns 80 in August and raced hard said, 'This is a big thrill after we sailed so well in the Series despite racing an eight-year-old design Sydney 38. I still love winning and we are looking forward to doing it again next summer.
'Now I'm setting my sights on doing this year?s Sydney Hobart (his 45th) in Challenge with many of the crew from the Series that included Carl Schmidt on the helm and around the world sailor Ian Barney Walker.
Over 180 boats competing in three divisions (IRC, AMS and PHS) sailed seven races for individual Club Marine Range Series honours as well as the Club Premiership, which was won for the fourth time in a row by the near invincible Sandringham Yacht Club team.
1 IRC Challenge Lou Abrahams
2 IRC Executive Decision Grant Botica
3 IRC Revenge Gordon Mather
1 AMS Horizon Sprint Frank Hammond
2 AMS Executive Decision Grant Botica
3 AMS Revenge Gordon Mather
1 PHS Merlion Eddie Mackevicius
2 PHS Executive Decision Grant Botica
3 PHD Hands and Heels Jill Marshall
The 2007 Champions and Awards Night was sponsored by Helly Hansen and Club Marine boat insurance and supported by Vic Health, Victorian State Government, Ronstan and Audi Centre Brighton.
