In winds gusting into the mid 20's, and strong enough to delay the start of the sports boats, the Grand Prix fleet sailed a 43 mile race to White Rock, around Denman, up past the Molles to Double Cone Island, then across to Gumbrell Island and home. Four other divisions sailed shorter versions of the same course.
Ray Robert's Cookson 50 Evolution Racing was first home and with just one race to sail she has now leads the IRC Championship. However, she didn't have the race all her own way and was behind both Scarlett Runner and Living Doll at the start.
“We didn't get off the line well,” Ray said, “And then we misjudged the tide on the passage up to White Rock. But we closed on them downwind. We were sailing bigger angles. Living Doll went a bit too far inshore at one stage and we took a lot out of them there. Then Scarlet Runner had a problem with her spinnaker and that opened the way for us.”
Ray also paid credit to local cane farmer, Aaron Linton, and tactician, Steve McConachy. “Their reading of the local conditions was great and helped us get the win.” he said.
Rob Date, skipper of the new Reichel Pugh 52 Scarlet Runner explained the spinnaker problem. “A halyard lock on our spinnaker failed to release and we headed towards Darwin until we could get a bloke up the mast to spike it and pull it down. That was the race. It's a sensational place to sail though and we're having great fun.”
On Pioneer Bay, Royal Geelong Yacht Club's Cameron Rae sailed his T8 sports boat Laminar Capital into the lead in the Sports Boat fleet She is now five points clear of Townsville sailor Leon Thomas aboard his T7 Guilty Pleasures.
It was a wild day of glory and disaster for the Sports Boat fleet, which completed three windward leeward races in Pioneer Bay.
Chris Byrnes Composite Constructions T7 did not even make it to the start line, in pre- race training in the short, sharp, chop the crew detected movement in the keel and retired from the regatta.
Pierre Gal's Sport 8xx racer was leading in race 8 when she broached and sat awash for agonising minutes, while her rivals sailed past. Colourful Gallic phrases of disappointment filled the air.
In the same race Mark Burbach's Raptor broke a main halyard just after the bottom mark and down came mainsail, with the line stuck at mast top. They were looking famous at the time but not so dockside, the boat a sorry sight, tipped on her side as the crew attempted repairs.
In races 7 and 8 Bob Cowan's Stealth 8 Stealthy had the quickest elapsed time, but in race 9 Conquistador took the honours.
Cam Rae's Thompson 8 Laminar Capital is the new overall handicap divisional leader. After a first on handicap in race 7 today, she finished second to Bob Cowan's Stealth 8 Stealthy in race 8 but won race 9.
Leon Thomas' Thompson 7 Guilty Pleasures from the Townsville Cruising Yacht Club is second overall (3,4,5 today) with Heath Townsend's Melges 24 What Tha is third (2,3,2) but just one point adrift of Guilty Pleasures. So the pressure will be on for the final podium placings in tomorrow's last race around Pioneer Bay.
Southport Yacht Club sailing manager Shane Smith, former 420 and 470 Olympic campaigner, sailing with two of his Southport sailing school graduates Jacob Restall and Adam Lahey, has won nine races out of the 11 sailed so far. They have won the Inshore Sports Boat Championship without needing to sail tomorrow.
Smith, who has not sailed at Airlie Beach before, was full of praise for the venue and the course area. “Great place, great sailing. We've added a sports boat pack to the Blazer 23 and we think a lot of the other Queensland Blazer sailors will realise just what fun can be had in the Sports Boat fleets. Expect to see more Blazers here in 2010.”
In the IRC Cruising division, race 5 was won on handicap by the Geoff Pearson skippered Beneteau First 45 Carbon Credits. Barry Kelly's Farr 395 Typhoon was second, with Stewart Lewis' Marten 49 Ocean Affinity taking third.
Ocean Affinity took line honours from Carbon Credits and Typhoon.
Overall Carbon Credits and Typhoon are on equal points, with John Moore's On Y Va third. The divisional championship hangs in the balance and tomorrow's race will be 'a make or break' and will decide the winner.
The Performance Racing division sailed race 6 of their series today, with Kim Williams Melges 32 Rock n Roll the quickest around the Molle Islands/Cones racecourse. Nick Athineos' Beneteau First 47.7 Kioni was second, followed by Charles Wallis' MBD42 Reignition.
On handicap however, its local Whitsunday Sailing Club stalwart Roger Down who leads with his Farr 116 True Love. Fellow Whitsunday SC sailor Tim Osborne's Farr 1104 Rising Farrst is second on count back over George Challoner's Elan 37 Airlie Retreat. Another closely fought division, where tomorrow's final race will decide the podium placings.
Mornington Yacht Club sailor Richard Nichols and five club mates have sailed his veteran Ligard 34 sloop into the lead in the Cruising Division 2 this week.
Nichols sailed last year at Magnetic Island Race Week in September and bought the boat, then called Come by Chance, there.
He sailed it back to Melbourne and reverting to her original name Seduction, cruised north again during May and June for his first ever Airlie Beach Race Week. He is heading north again for Magnetic Island Race Week (September 4-8th).
“We've been having a blast here at Airlie Beach. Its been great sailing, great scenery and a very friendly cruising fleet, but we've over-trained a few nights and we did more than we should have on the Lay Day too!”
Today Race 5 for the Cruising division was won on handicap by Seduction from Rosie Colahan's Jenneau SO 40 Ingenue. Terry Archer's Bavaria 42 Africa was third.
Seduction scored the double after being fastest boat around today, finishing one minute and twenty seconds ahead of Africa, with Ingenue third.
On handicap overall the leader of the Cruising division is Seduction, from More Intrigue, Merv Stephensen's Northshore 38C from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Africa currently holds third, on count back.
In the Cruising Non Spinnaker division Tulip, Bernie Vanthof's Swan 45 from the CYCA was fastest around today's course, finishing over thirty minutes ahead of Peter McAdam's Bavaria 44 Manly Too. Brian Pattinson's Beneteau 44.7 Seaduction was third.
On handicap race 5 went to Manly Too, with Riff Raff and Azure Peter Hall's Jeanneau 39I third.
Riff Raff, Dan White's Beneteau Oceanis 440 leads on the division overall on handicap, but on count back from Manly Too, with Tulip third.
Tomorrow's racing starts early at 8:55am for the IRC Racing and IRC Cruising fleets, as well as the Performance Racing fleet and the Cruising fleets. The two Sports Boat fleets will again each sail three windward leeward races on Pioneer Bay.
IRC Racing
Series Results [IRC] for Division 1 up to Race 6 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 8899 EVOLUTION RACING Ray Roberts CYCA Cookson 50 8 1 1 1 2 [6.0] 3
2 R55 LIVING DOLL Michael Hiatt RYCV Farr 55 9 2 3 [5.0] 1 2 1
3 SM11 SCARLET RUNNER Robert Date SYC RP52 10 3 2 2 [6.0] 1 2
4 9009 NIGHT NURSE Russell McCart RQYS Farr 40 21 5 [6.0] 3 3 5 5
5 6530 CRACKLIN ROSIE Robbo Robertson RQYS FARR 40 25 6 7 4 [7.0] 4 4
6 M4 CADIBARRA 8 John Netherton MOOLOOLABA Jones 42 27 4 5 [8.0] 4 7 7
7 6838 E11EVEN Ian Thomson RQYS Farr 40 IRC 30 7 8 6 [8.0] 3 6
8 YC400 FORD PREFECT Brett Young CYCSA Beneteau first 40 38 11.0C 4 7 5 11.0C [11.0C]
9 88888 SAMURAI JACK Noel Humphreys MBYC Farr39ML mod 45 11.0C 9 9 [11.0F] 8 8
10 R50 SHOGUN Robert Hanna RGYC Cookson 50 fixed kee 55 11.0C 11.0C 11.0C 11.0C 11.0C [11.0C]
IRC Cruising
Series Results [IRC] for Division 1 up to Race 5 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 5R 6669 CARBON CREDITS Geoff Pearson MHYC Beneteau First 45 6 1 1 2 2 [5.0]
2 8395 TYPHOON Barry Kelly NCYC Farr 395 6 2 [3.0] 1 1 2
3 FRA9500 ON Y VA John Moore RQYS Beneteau 44.7 12 [5.0] 4 4 3 1
4 2960 DANCING LADY Robert Pennell RQYS Farr 11.6 16 4 5 3 4 [9.0]
5 RQ64 OCEAN AFFINITY Stewart Lewis RQYS Marten 49 17 3 2 [7.0] 6 6
6 771 DOUBLE O SEVEN Jeffrey Brown WSC Northshore 38 mod 21 6 7 [8.0] 5 3
7 BOW3 BOUDICEA Mike Steel TCYC Dufour 34 Regatta 26 7 6 6 7 [7.0]
8 SP3 SUREFOOT Rod Sawyer WSC Norlin 30 9 9 [9.0] 8 4
9 N6 TEAM SMART Tony Ross SYC Archambault 40 32 [11.0F] 10 5 9 8
10 7407 CHANCELLOR Morgan Rogers CYCA Beneteau 40.7 38 8 8 11.0C 11.0C [11.0C]
Performance Racing
Series Results [EHC] for Division 1 up to Race 6 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 999 TRUE LOVE Roger Down WSC Farr 116 23 3 4 5 [10.0] 4 7
2 1.0S 4260 RISING FARRST Tim Osborne WSC Farr 1104 28 4 8 8 7 [12.0] 1
3 2.0S 640 WOBBLY BOOT Craig Piccinelli WSC ModYoung88 28 10 3 4 [12.0] 9 2
4 6754 AIRLIE RETREAT George Challoner RMYC ELAN 37 28 7 [9.0] 7 6.0G 5 3
5 9111 ROPABULL Mike Roper RMYC/BB Beneteau 42 29 11 2 3 8 [13.0] 5
6 5013 AIR APPARENT Steve Wright NQCYC Young 31 30.5 1 5.5 10 [13.0] 8 6
7 2.0S 6146 KIONI Nick Athineos CYCA Beneteau First 47.7 31 2 7 1 11 10 [14.0]
8 202 REIGNITION Charles Wallis WSC MBD42 31 9 [13.0] 6 5 1 10
9 588 IDLE TIME Kevin Fogarty WSC Spacesailer 31.5 6 5.5 9 [14.0] 7 4
10 AUS3232 ROCK N ROLL Kim Williams RANSA Melges 32 32 8 12 [12.0] 1 2 9
11 1.0S 4054 PACIFIC PHOENIX Alan Sneddon WSC BENETEAU 405 38 14 1 2 9 [14.0] 12
12 1236 LOCAL HERO Peter Mosely MHYC BH36 38 5 [14.0] 13 4 3 13
13 W13 FALLEN ANGELS Damien Suckling WSC Atkinson 24 41 [12.0] 10 11 3 6 11
14 8041 LORNA ROSE TOO Peter Mitchelson WSC Austral Clubman 8 45 13 11 [15.0F] 2 11 8
Sports Boats
Series Results [SMS] for Division 1 up to Race 9 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 9 Race 8 Race 7 Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 G108 LAMINAR CAPITAL Cam Rae RGYC Thompson 8 17 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 4 [9.0]
2 5887 GUILTY PLEASURES Leon Thomas TCYC Thompson 7 22 5 4 3 3 [7.0] 2 2 1 2
3 AUS558 WHAT THA Heath Townsend GBYC Melges 24 23 2 3 2 1 5 5 3 2 [7.5]
4 RQ202 STEALTHY Bob Cowan LMYC Stealth 41 8 1 4 2 8 [9.0] 6 6 6
5 7008 ZUTE Stephen Hunter SYC Thompson 7 44.5 3 6 7 7 [13.0] 4 7 7.5 3
6 105 CONQUISTADOR Pierre Gal CHYC sports 8 xx 56 6 7 10 9 6 8 5 5 [13.0]
7 Q38 NO LIMITS Bruce Tardrew RQYS Stealth 8 58 9.5 11 9 10.5 2 3 10 3 [11.0]
8 734 X2 TANGENT Simon Vincent NQCYC Elliot 780 espx 60 4 5 8 5 3 12 13 [14.0] 10
9 RQ777 RAPTOR Mark Buchbach RQYS Stealth 7 62.5 15.0C [15.0F] 5 8 4 7 4 12 7.5
10 E46 OMEN Andrew Holden RQYS Elliott 7 66.5 9.5 [15.0F] 6 4 12 14 9 11 1
11 DS808 M.J.R OUTRAGE Tony EcCles RMYC Duncanson Phuket 8 80 12 8 11 [14.0] 10 13 12 9 5
12 7018 COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTI Chris Byrne SYC/CCSC Thompson 7 82 15.0C 15.0C [15.0F] 10.5 11 11 8 7.5 4
13 7 GUIDED MISSILE John Rae MYC STEALTH 8 85 7 10 13 13 9 6 14 13 [14.0]
14 SA780 PRIMAL SCREAM Tom Jordan MYC Elliott 780 87 11 9 12 12 [14.0] 10 11 10 12
Sports Boats – Inshore
Series Results [SMS] for Division 1 up to Race 11 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 11 Race 10 Race 9 Race 8 Race 7 Race 6 Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 55 MUSTO Shane Smith SYC Blazer 23 11 1 1 2 1 1 [2.0] 1 1 1 1 1
2 3384 AIRLE SAILS Jamie Jochheim WSC sb3 19 2 2 [4.0] 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2
3 AUS3381 BEER LAO Paul Hunt NQCYC SB3 34 4 3 1 3 3 5 4 3 [5.0] 4 4
4 3357 WAGOP Michael McLean SYC sb3 39 3 4 5 [6.0] 5 4 3 4 3 5 3
5 3352 DARTVADER Mark Prince NYC sb3 47 5 5 3 5 4 3 6 6 4 6 [6.0]
6 3353 MARINETECH ELECTRICS Lachlan McLean RQYS Dart SB3 52 6 6 6 4 6 6 5 5 [6.0] 3 5
7 6798 SCRATCH Dave Griffin RMYC boatspeed 23 72 8.0C 8.0C [8.0C] 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Cruising
Series Results [EHC Div1] for Division 1 up to Race 5 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 HKG1222 CHINA BLUES Bill McCarthy MYC X-442 13 5 [12.0] 4 2 2
2 6215 KAT Chris Stockdale CYCA Beneteau 50 17 2 1 [13.0] 6 8
3 1.0S 80808 PANACEA 10% HARD COR Ken Christensen RBYC Beneteau 40.7 18 10 [10.0] 3 4 1
4 6556 MAGIQUE Chris Carlile CYCA Beneteau 18 4 [8.0] 7 3 4
5 1.0S 5796 QLD MARINE SERVICES John Galloway WSC Holland 22 9 [11.0] 6 1 6
6 SA10 STORM 2 Don Algie WSC WARWICK 66 22 3 2 [12.0] 10 7
7 1.0S H370 HANS-ON Nick / Col Cox / MYC Hanse 370e 23 8 9 1 [9.0] 5
8 3.0S W8 SANDPIPER WUTBA Colin Pruden WSC Swarbrick S111 23 6 7 [9.0] 7 3
9 M333 WHISPER FOUR John Hall SYC DUFOUR 44 23 7 6 5 5 [10.0]
10 6797 HOLY COW! John & Kim Clinton CYCA Beneteau Oceanis 50 24 1 4 8 11 [11.0]
11 5178 TEAM ENSIGN Alexis Bisbas SYC Dubois 40' 31 12 [13.0] 2 8 9
12 6678 SUPERTRAMP Sue And Alan Pick RPAYC Beneteau Oceanis 46 38 11 5 10 12 [12.0]
13 BOW4 SILVERSHOT David Perkins MYC Beneteau 50 40 [14.0F] 3 11 13 13
Cruising
Series Results [EHC Div2] for Division 2 up to Race 5 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 M406 SEDUCTION Richard Nichols MYC Lidgard 34 14 1 [11.0] 5 1 7
2 1.0S 606 MORE INTRIGUE Merv Stephensen RQYS Northshore 38 C 18 5 3 [11.0] 9 1
3 W42 AFRICA Terry Archer WSC Bavaria 42 Cruiser 18 3 [12.0] 9 3 3
4 5899 BOBBY D Ross Winterbourne NQCYC Farr 19 7 6 [8.0] 2 4
5 W677 SUNRISE Helen & Jeff Shipsey APYC/WSC Elan 37 20 [9.0] 7 4 4 5
6 3610 TURTLE TIME Jason Randall WSC Swarbrick Spacesailo 22 4 4 [12.0] 8 6
7 1.0S B36 AMADEUS Peter Johnson WSC bavaria 36 23 10 1 2 [11.0] 10
8 5877 HYDRO THERAPY Mike Trickey WSC Beneteau First 33.7 23 8 [8.0] 7 6 2
9 B88 INGENUE Rosie Colahan RBYC Jeanneau SO 40 24 2 2 10 10 [11.0]
10 B408 RAMPALLION Roger Incledon RBYC S99 25 [11.0] 5 6 5 9
11 1.0S 730 TIDE UP Barry Smith NQCYC NOELEX Trailer Sailo 28 6 9 1 12 [12.0]
12 4262 SUNFLOWER Graeme Douglas WSC Peterson Santana 30 28 [12.0] 10 3 7 8
Cruising – No Spinnaker
Series Results [EHC] for Division 1 up to Race 5 (Drops = 1)
Place Ties Sail No Boat Name Skipper From Design Sers Score Race 5 Race 4 Race 3 Race 2 Race 1
1 1.0S W440 RIFF RAFF Dan White WSC Beneteau Oceanis 440 10 2 1 6 [7.0] 1
2 SM4400 MANLY TOO Peter McAdam SYC BAVARIA 44 10 1 2 [8.0] 2 5
3 SYD8 TULIP Bernie Vanthof CYCA Swan 45 21 6 8 [12.0] 1 6
4 12 AZURE Peter Hall PYC JEANNEAU 39I 22 3 5 5 [14.0F] 9
5 1.0S 271 SERENDIPITY Roger Boast WSC Bavaria 36 23 [14.0F] 6 1 8 8
6 3.0S 4787 AVALON Norm House WSC Richards 37 23 8 9 3 [14.0F] 3
7 B4407 SEADUCTION Brian Pattinson RBYC beneteau 44.7 23 4 10 [11.0] 5 4
8 3.0S ST461 VALDOLESE Greg Sier SYC Beneteau 461 25 9 3 7 6 [10.0]
9 6702 JOIE DE VIE Wayne Banks Smith RPAYC Jeanneau Sun Odysse 25 5 [11.0] 9 4 7
10 BOW1 BENETTA Murray Sheer CCY Beneteau cyclades 43 26 7 4 4 [14.0F] 11
11 G8710 AKATEA John Garner RGYC Cookson 40 27 [14.0C] 12 10 3 2
12 BOW2 BLISS Pete Sheehy WSC Jutson 30 [14.0S] 7 2 9 12
13 SM477 ESPRIT Garry Anderson SYC beneteau 47.7 56 14.0C 14.0C 14.0C 14.0C [14.0C]
