Farr 40 One Designs in tight finish in the Sydney-Mooloolaba Yacht Race

by Andrew 'Dog' Palfrey on 18 Apr 2000 The three Farr 40 One Design yachts competing in this year's Sydney-Mooloolaba Yacht Race finished around noon today. After 72 hours of very tactical
offshore sailing conditions, all three of the teams finished within sixteen minutes of one another and less than six hours behind the line honours victor, Wild
Thing.
First to arrive was Buon Giorno, owned and helmed by Steve Ellis. They narrowly beat Richard Perini's team aboard Corinthian Doors, whilst Warren
Wieckmann's team aboard Leroy Brown was pushing hard from behind, but ran out of time to catch Ellis and Perini.

Ellis was very pleased with taking top honours amongst the extremely competitive Farr 40 contingent. 'There was brilliant sailing conditions and really tight
racing all throughout the race. The Farr 40's were never out of sight. It was as if there was a bungee cord attaching us. One boat would do something good and
slip ahead, but then we would all be together in the ocean again. This race was testament to the one design racing we enjoy aboard the Farr 40's. Even though
we are trying to win the race on IRC handicap, the tight racing amongst the Farr 40's spurred our crew on to sail the boat to its potential.' Said Ellis shortly after
arriving in Mooloolaba.

This year's Sydney-Mooloolaba fleet has had to contend with very mixed weather and tidal conditions. 'After a pretty tame start, things got pretty rough around
Smokey Cape, but from there on, it was champagne sailing as the wind filled from the south-east.' commented Ellis. There was also some drifting involved and a
lot of strategic decisions to make. One of those decisions went wrong for Leroy Brown. Owner-Driver, Warren Wieckmann said ' We thought there might be
some more pressure inshore of Moreton Island, but we were wrong. We lost a lot of time there, but got close again. We'll have to wait for the next race for
revenge.'

The Farr 40 One Designs were competing for overall handicap honours in the popular IRC Division. After two days of racing, the three Farr 40's held down first,
second and third overall. There will be an anxious wait for the smaller boats to finish into tonight. Richard Perini commented 'We are confident of placing really
well on IRC, but if the southerly keeps filling, it will be won by the little boats. They had done really well over the last day. It would be nice to win the race on IRC,
but to us, the real race was trying to be the first Farr 40 into Mooloolaba'.

From here, only one of the Farr 40's, Leroy Brown, heads farther north, competing in the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, beginning on Good Friday. Boun
Giorno and Corinthian Doors are being delivered back to their home port of Sydney to prepare for more tight Farr 40 One Design racing later in the year at
Hamilton Island Race Week.

For more information about the Farr 40 One Design, go to www.farr40.org , or contact Farr International Australia on shane@farrint.com.au