BARKING MAD BEATS THE WIND

Please select your home edition

Edition

BARKING MAD BEATS THE WIND

by Ian Grant on 24 Aug 2000

Andrew Leggett

American World title winning Farr 40 skipper James Richardson piloted his sloop Barking Mad to an overall lead in the International Hahn Premium Race Week championship off Hamilton Island today.

Richardson certainly had his equally competitive Australian rivals ‘Barking Mad’ when his mixed an element of luck with his proven sailing skills on a course which was littered with hidden challenges.

This was a race decided on a high degree of luck and being in the path to accept several dramatic wind changes which drifted off the edge of the lazy 3-6 knot land breeze.

Victorian skipper David Gotze played on the advantage line of the numerous wind changes in Brighton Star to come from what appeared to be a hopeless position to sail around the edge of the fleet to eventually score a deserved win.

Richardson and his Barking Mad crew chased all the tricky wind signs on the water to cleverly hold second place finishing just ahead of the defending Race Week champion Marcus Blackmore of Sydney in Emotional Hooligan while Stephen Ellis and his Buon Giorno crew placed their title in damage control with a last place finish.

The gifted Richardson noted for his skill in the art form of one design yacht racing has now wrestled the championship lead from his Australian rivals.

Barking Mad enters tomorrows testing 30 n/ml Baynham Island race holding a two point lead over Buon Giorno (Stephen Ellis,NSW) with Emotional Hooligan (Marcus Blackmore) another point away third.

If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.yachtsandyachting.com/224

Related Articles

Sprint 15 National Championships
Harwich Town hosts nearly 50 cats Forty-eight competitors and their supporters descended on a small seaside town on the East Coast for the Sprint 15 National Championships.
Posted on 22 Aug

A Class Cat GBR National Championships
Jellyfish take their toll on rudders After two days of not sailing due to high wind limits, the thoroughbred competitors of the GBR Nationals, or Britnats, as the Aussies call it, where starting to get rather twitchy.
Posted on 22 Aug

55th European Sharpie Championship day 4
Another perfect day for international racing in Hayling Bay The forty strong fleet enjoyed another perfect day for international racing in Hayling Bay. The wind was steady in the South West, building from an initial 10 knots to an enhanced 15 to 18 knots.
Posted on 22 Aug

Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe day 5
Another glamorous day on the water The penultimate day of the Aspire Merlin Rocket Championships saw another two races and was again a glamorous day on the water. Winds from the SW around 8-12 knots with five degree shifts under mainly sunny skies was the order of the day.
Posted on 22 Aug

Rolex New York YC Invitational Cup preview
Southern Hemisphere clubs among favorites for sixth edition Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron currently has sailing's most prestigious silver ewer on display in its clubhouse on the Auckland waterfront. But this September, the yacht club will aim to add to its crowded trophy case another coveted sailing prize.
Posted on 22 Aug

TF35 boat zero unveiled on Lake Geneva
Designed with the ambitious brief to offer top-level foiling Having lead the process of development to create the D35, Ernesto Bertarelli is once again one of the committed group of owners involved in the development of the TF35.
Posted on 22 Aug

Rossborough Round the Island Race
An agreeably fast rounding Excellent conditions prevailed for the annual Rossborough Round the Island Race organised by the Royal Channel Islands YC, held earlier this month. Despite a lack of sunshine, the mostly moderate westerly breeze produced an agreeably fast rounding.
Posted on 22 Aug

Last Minute Summer Getaways
Why go to a Beach Club in September? Looking for an active late-summer break? Want to learn a new skill, like windsurfing or dinghy sailing? Want to skipper your own yacht around the Mediterranean? Or, just fancy relaxing by the warm waters?
Posted on 22 Aug

Fireball North American Championships day 1
A single race run, with a Swiss one-two The boat park was pretty empty early in the morning as we all hid from the rain, thunder and lightening. By noon the rain had stopped and we launched in a light southerly wind which built to F2-3.
Posted on 22 Aug

Entry open for Dragon 90th Anniversary Regatta
Already more than 150 crews from 24 nations have entered This very special birthday is being marked with an extraordinary Dragon 90th Anniversary Gala Regatta, hosted by the International Dragon Association in partnership with the Yacht Club Sanremo, Italy.
Posted on 22 Aug