Mascap (Peter McClelland) negotiated Friday night’s Grant Thornton Short Haul with precision to win Race Four of the Series. Perfect twilight conditions greeted a fleet of 20 for the first night race of the Summer Series. McClelland said that they were expecting light conditions but were pleasantly surprised with the consistent breeze that the Harbour delivered.
“It was much fresher that we thought it was going to be so we started with a bit too much sail up which probably wasn’t ideal but we managed,” McClelland said. “It was our first ever night race so it was challenging figuring out where to go. It was a great night with not too much traffic on the Harbour which was good, night sailing really teaches you to be more aware.
In a solid breeze, MeClelland attributed the win to his crew who worked hard all night. “They deserve all of the credit, Warrick Plunstad and Peter Thompson worked solidly all night in what was a great breeze. We kept an eye on the rest of the fleet during the race because we could see their stern lights so we were in the mix of it all race.
“I think we made up a bit of time around Shark Island with only two tacks when everyone else appeared to be making in excess of three.”
PRO for the evening was Denis Thompson who echoed McClellend’s satisfaction with the conditions on the Harbour.
“We had a really good 15-18 knots north easterly sea breeze to start the evening so we sent around course two,” Thompson said. “Half way around the breeze died down out a bit and as they finished it had dropped to 5-8 knots.
“It really was a pleasant evening even through the breeze was fresh at times but everyone was back at the CYCA by 2100 hours enjoying the hospitality.”
Crosshaven (Justin Pelly and Sean Rahilly) finished Race Four in second place with Ian Guanaria sailing One More-No More to third.
In the IRC Division, Crosshaven scored the win with One More-No More coming in second and Peter Franki’s Saltshaker rounding off the podium places.
Race Five of the Grant Thornton Short Haul Pointscore, the 59th Paul Royle Memorial Trophy, will be Saturday November 7 at 1055 hours.
– Stacey French/CYCA
