In gruelling conditions on Sydney Harbour for the first day of the Farr 40 One Design Trophy, Jeff Carter’s Edake scored three bullets to sit in first place, where she has been comfortably sitting for the majority of the season.
With conditions forecast to be gusting well over 25 knots, the decision was made at the Class briefing to move the race course from offshore to inside Sydney Harbour.
A south/south-westerly averaging 23 knots, gusting to 28, provided the teams with the most testing conditions of the season thus far.
Number four jibs were the call of the day to get through the gusty upwind beats and once the fleet was around the top mark, the downhill run provided plenty of drama. Even the best and most experienced teams did not escape without incident.
Wipeouts were aplenty, spinnakers were shredded, and all crews were thoroughly exhausted after three races. Just half of the fleet managed to see the day out.
Australian Class President, Rob Pitts (Double Black) scored 3.2.2 for second overall, two points ahead of fellow Melbournians Rob Davis and Andy Baker with Nutcracker.
“Today was a day of survival and attrition and only half the fleet was left standing for the last race,” Pitts said. “Massive wind gusts and torrential rain made downwind sailing a white knuckle ride and the day was adrenalin packed to the max.”
With up to four races planned for tomorrow, the overall trophy is well and truly still up for grabs.
Racing will commence on Sunday at 11am inside Sydney Harbour.
Full results: http://www.farr40.asn.au/results/
Jennie Hughes
