BROTHERS IN FARR CLASS MATCH RACE

by Ian Grant on 4 Jan 2001 Simon and Neill Whiston featured in another remarkable match race to decide the Farr 40 class winner in the Strathfield Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race this morning.

The English born brothers who are business partners become friendly rivals when they stand watch at the helm of their impressive Farr 40 One Design yachts Smile and Fruit Machine.

Naturally they are personally proud and protective of their reputations and the quality of their crews.

Both combinations were evenly matched over the 226 n/ml course with first Fruit Machine edging marginally clear to lead Buon Giorno (Stephen Ellis), Leroy Brown (Warren Wieckmann) and Smile.

There was an excuse for Smile dropping off the pace when the crew was forced to stop the boat to shed a large clump of kelp wrapped around her keel.

'It's tough when you a forced to give and inch let alone a few seconds, you just have to tough it out and hope to get it back'. A crew spokesperson said.

Racing in One Design where all the yachts are cloned from the same mould and rigged with identical sails is always tough.

'There was no let up out there it was basically a 226 n/ml match race decided by one tack over 24 hours ago' Said Rob Brown the tactician on Fruit Machine.

'At the time we were engaged in a match race to keep Buon Giorno on our hip when the Smile boys tacked off a little further offshore and came out smiling'.

'From there it was a game of catch up, but they just never made a mistake in the pressure racing over the final 120 miles and deserved to win'. Brown said.

Smile's winning margin over Fruit Machine at the finish was a little under 12 minutes with Buon Giorno a similar distance away third.

The win has qualified Smile to represent Australia in the Admirals Cup team in England later this year.

This intense match race could also play a major role in deciding the IRC class corrected handicap winner, which will be announced later today.