Prince Philip Cup Australasian Dragon Championship - Day 1
by Peter Campbell 6 Jan 2015 07:58 GMT
3-9 January 2014
Whimsical leading fellow Sydney boat Indulgence on a windy Port Philip bay © International Dragon Class of Australia
Arguably one of the oldest one-design class yachtsmen in the world, 88-year-old Gordon Ingate is showing he is still a remarkably talented helmsman by today sailing his International Dragon class yacht Whimsical into the overall lead in the prestigious 2015 Prince Philip Cup on Melbourne's Port Phillip.
Ingate moved up from third to first on the leaderboard with a second and a first place today against a 16 boat fleet from Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and Great Britain, following his 4-3 score on day one of the regatta being conducted by Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
Over a yachting career spanning more than 75 years, Ingate has represented Australia at the Admiral's Cup and the Olympic Games and has skippered a challenger for the America's Cup. He won the Prince Philip Cup on Hobart's River Derwent several years back, his first win in what is the Australasian championship for the Dragon class after half a century in the class.
He also went close to wining the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with Caprice of Huon in 1972.
After four races, Whimsical is on 10 points, with fellow RSYS member Wolf Breit in second place in Shapes after placings of 1-1-3-6 for 11 points. Among Shapes' experienced crew is Roger Hickman who last week skippered the ocean racing yacht Wild Rose to an overall victory in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Third overall is the West Australian entry, Wizzardy, skippered by Raymond Chatfield from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club with 16 points from placings of 5-4-5-2.
British yachtsman Robert Campbell and the crew of Indulgence, winners of the Ted Albert Memorial Regatta on Sunday, were OCS in race two yesterday today improved their overall standing to sixth with a first and a third place.
Racing continues Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
More information and results at www.rbyc.org.au/sailing/regattas/prince-phillip-cup-australian-dragon-championships