New champions were crowned in NSW ORC, Australian Sports Boat and the Sydney 38 One-Design NSW Championships on the final day of the Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta this evening, while prizes were awarded to winners in the Super 40s, Pittwater Cup Series and Grand Soleil Yachts Cup.
NSW ORC Championship supported by Sydney Marine Brokerage
Three offshore windward/leewards today and having led Division 1 into the day, Garry Gudmunson’s Organised Chaos kept the momentum and two wins and third guaranteed 12.5 point victory over Toybox 2 (Ian Box) and the NSW champion title.
Ian Box fought hard to stay at the top of the standings, as Gerry Hatton’s Bushranger bounced back to claim third, 1.5 points adrift. Who knows how different it might have been if not for Bushranger’s oops in Race 1 when a wrong mark rounding cost her dearly.
“Our first race was a light 5-8 knot sou’ easter. We got to the top mark behind the two DKs – from there we just had to hang on. The second, the breeze increased to 12 knots and we hung on so they couldn’t sail away from us,” Gudmunson said.
“I’m very excited and happy to be new champion I’ve had boat eight months now. It’s a great little boat. Rule 1 is to sail with mates and have fun. I want to thank the sponsors and the Club; I know all the work that goes into a regatta.”
After winning both yesterday’s Division 2 races, Dave Davies (Local Hero) also kept his eye on the prize and posting a pair of seconds and a win today did the trick, making Davies and crew NSW champions. Georgia Lee (Craig Suggit) placed second, seven points adrift of Local Hero, while Peter Farrugia’s Bullwinkle started and finished in third place.
Dave Davies: “It was definitely in our Achilles heel zone the first race today; 6-7 knots and very shifty all day. But the breeze picked up to 12-13 knots and that’s our happy place. Georgia Lee was a worry and certainly Bullwinkle in the lighter air. The crew is very happy and I’m proud of them.”
Australian Sports Boat Championship goes to Like Oxygen
A first for the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club hosted Pittwater Regatta was the Australian Sports Boat Championship and today’s final three races were inshore windward/leewards.
Andrew York’s Like Oxygen (NSW) is the new Australian champion, but it didn’t all go York’s way. Scoring three wins and a second place yesterday, it was good to have points in the bank. Today he scored 4-3-4, dropping a fourth to win by two points from Malcolm Dean’s Black Betty, which kept the winner honest throughout. Stuart Innes’ Tickety Boo was third.
“Very shifty,” York said. “The first race we opened up a huge lead to the top mark, then got run down. We had a terrible start in second and in the third race we got a reasonable start, but the little boats were bringing down pressure the whole time and we crossed one second behind the first boat to finish.
“The boat’s going really well though and the crew did a great job,” said York, the first to win the Championship three times and the only one to win it in self-designed boats. First REO Speedwagon and now Like Oxygen, which was fastest boat on the course yesterday – beating all the Super 40s times to boot.
Sydney 38 NSW Championship won by Conspiracy
Challenge was the first boat to beat Conspiracy for this Championship – last season – but the boat was sold and the new owner could not make it. Conspiracy, owned by David Hudson and Peter Byford, winner of innumerable National and NSW Championships, came to the fore again, but not without stiff opposition, including newer players.
This time, Conspiracy’s crew came back with renewed vigour and five bullets from six races was the result. The new champions won by 10 points to Stephen Teudt and Lisa Callaghan’s Mondo. Gusto, owned by Colin Gunn and Jack Stening from Middle Harbour placed third.
Gunn and Stening long owned a Sydney 36, but this is their early foray into extremely competitive Sydney 38 one-design racing. Heading to the last race, they were on equal points with Mondo, but Mondo prevailed by two points.
Hudson commented, ”We obviously had a good day. What you can’t see, is we had two lousy starts – Race 4 and Race 5 – this one we were over the start early. In Race 6 we had a conservative start and fought our way back. A lesson to everybody – when everyone stays calm and focusses on boat speed it can be done!
“Peter and I thank the whole crew in supporting us – we’re both over 70.” Hudson, always one to encourage the rest, added, “Obviously we are delighted to be first, but from an Association point of view, it’s wonderful to see all these new people doing so well. They all can see for themselves that they had good legs, so it’s all about consistency now.”
Super 40s to Condor
Ross Hennessy sailed Condor, a Ker 40 MK3, to a win of over three minutes in Race 1 and a further win, a fourth and a second, sealed the deal.
from Grant Pocklington’s Anarchy in the Super 40’s opener. Andrew Walters/David Hamilton’s Little Nico was pipped to second place by two seconds!
“We’ve had a great weekend of racing in a very competitive fleet,” Hennessy said. “You can see in the results that only seconds made or lost a race. I love racing on Pittwater, so it’s really special to have such close racing at our home club. I bought Condor during Covid, so we’ve not had a lot of opportunity yet to be pushed like this.
“Our success is thanks to my fabulous crew. They’re mostly Corinthian crew who sail with me weekly for twilights, with four women on board. We were also grateful to have Shane Guanaria on board testing some new sails. They seemed to have lived up to expectations!”
Post regatta celebrations were a real knees up affair, as they always are. Crews enjoyed the Modus Pop-Up Can Bar, final presentation and live music from Brite Boy, as the sun set on another fabulous Pittwater Regatta.
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club thanks all competitors for making the annual regatta the success it is. The Club also thanks key sponsors, Pantaenius Sail and Motor Yacht Insurance and Sydney Marine Brokers. Thanks also to Middle Harbour Yacht Club and Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay for their assistance in running this three-day event.
For full results and all information, please go to: www.pittwaterregatta.au
By Di Pearson/RPAYC media
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