18ft Skiffs 3-Buoys Challenge - Race 2

The Kitchen Maker racing a Sydney ferry down the harbour during race 2 of the 18ft Skiff 3-Buoys Challenge © Frank Quealey

Mojo Wine trails Asko and her spinnaker in the water at the bottom mark in race 2 of the 18ft Skiff 3-Buoys Challenge © Frank Quealey

After last Sunday's strong winds which lashed Sydney Harbour on the opening day of the Australian 18 Footers League's 2013-2014 Season, today's Race 2 of the 18ft Skiffs 3-Buoys Challenge was sailed in near perfect conditions.

The 3-lap windward-return course gave patrons a great view of the entire course from the spectator ferry and the 16-boat fleet produced some great racing in the 15-17-knot north-east wind.

Jonathan Whitty, James Hozack and Aron Everett certainly reveled in the conditions as they took line by 56s in their Panasonic-sponsored Lumix skiff.

John Winning, Andrew Hay and Jim Beck finished second in Yandoo, with Euan McNicol, Mike McKensey and Ricky Bridge third in Mojo Wine, a further 1m14s behind Yandoo.

Lumix led the fleet up the first windward beat to the 3-buoys rounding marks, and took full advantage from the handicapping system to increase the lead on the spinnaker run to the twin marks which completed the first lap of the course.

Asko Appliances (James Dorron) was in second place behind Lumix, followed by Pure Blonde (Nick Daly), Yandoo, and De'Longhi-Rabbitohs (Simon Nearn) which had recovered strongly after being recalled at the start.

Last week's winner Smeg is dwarfed by two former America's Cup yachts in race 2 of the 18ft Skiff 3-Buoys Challenge - photo © Frank Quealey

Pure Blonde was relegated back to fifth at the bottom mark while the other leaders retained their positions.

Lumix continued to set the pace upwind and increased her lead to 1m10s over Yandoo at the second set of windward markers.

Backmarker Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) had edged her way up into third place just ahead of Asko Appliances, which had an untimely capsize on the work.

While Lumix and Yandoo were untroubled to hold their placings over the latter half of the course, the battle behind them held spectator interest until the end as the handicap system came into play.

Asko recovered from the mid race capsize to grab fourth place, ahead of De'Longhi Rabbitohs and The Kitchen Maker (Malcolm Page).

More photos will be published on www.18footers.com.au and video coverage of the race can be seen on www.18footerstv.com.

The club's regular spectator ferry will follow next Sunday's Race 3 of the 3-Buoys Challenge, leaving Double Bay Wharf at 2.15pm.

Winner Jono Whitty with his girlfriend and number one fan Maitena Celestin after race 2 of the 18ft Skiff 3-Buoys Challenge - photo © Frank Quealey