Airlie Beach Race Week - Day 5

by Di Pearson 13 Aug 2015 19:23 BST 7-14 August 2015

Cool Change capsizes at Airlie Beach Race Week

A 30 knot gust of breeze out of nowhere resulted in the 10.9 metre multihull, Cool Change, capsizing during Race 6 at Airlie Beach Race Week today, but her owner and all crew members were safe and back on land by lunch time.

Mackay sailor Bob Critchley and his crew were contesting an Island's course when at around 10.35am, an hour into the race, crew from Belle, a monohull yacht sailing in the same race, reported to the event's race committee that they had witnessed the 10.9 metre green multihull capsize and would stand by.

More Noise, Jason Close's Archambault 31, from IRC Racing Division 2, was only around 60 metres away from Cool Change when it capsized and turtled to the upside down position. Close advised the race committee that More Noise would stand by.

Race Officials monitored the situation throughout and rescue authorities and water police were immediately notified. Along with the event's Mark Boat 2, all three went to the scene while an ambulance was called in case of injury.

Fortunately, Bob Critchley and his crew were all on deck when the capsize occurred. They fell into the water before climbing atop the upturned hull of Cool Change before being transferred to other vessels.

All aboard were fine, save for a couple of cuts and bruises and shock. Fortunately, the water temperature was 20 degrees and none of the crew was in the water for long.

While some crew were taken aboard Mark Boat 2 and Blake Boulton's racing yacht, Trumpcard, Critchley was taken aboard More Noise, whose owner, Jason Close said, "it capsized nearly on top of us. It all happened so quickly – three seconds was all it took before the boat was upside down.

"We used sign language to them to do a quick head count and realised all six crew members were on the hull and safe. We immediately dropped our sails to go and standby and assist. Then I got on the radio and notified race officials," Close said.

"The forecast was for 20-25 knots, which is very sailable, but when we got to North Molle there were big sudden gusts," he said.

Bob Critchley said never in his 30 years of sailing had he even come close to capsizing.

"That gust hit so suddenly, we didn't get a chance to respond. Lucky we had a reef in the main. Even last year, when we sailed in much worse weather at Airlie Beach Race Week, nothing even like this came close to happening."

"We got hit suddenly by the biggest gust at Hanna Point and it was over in seconds - all six of us were on the hull quickly. We saw others around us get hit by the same gust.

Critchley said he was grateful to all who made sure he and his crew were safe and that their situation was being constantly monitored by the experienced race officials at Airlie Beach Race Week.

By the time they had reached Abell Point Marina, where More Noise is berthed during Race Week, Critchley had already advised his insurance company and a salvage crew, who were to retrieve the catamaran today.

"They'll have to cut the mast and rig away and all the electronics are ruined. We all lost our personal possessions, watches, wallets and my hearing aids. My crew is a very experienced one, except for one person, so we did all the right things," the Queenslander ended.

Deputy Race Director, Jock Ross, has applied for redress on behalf of More Noise, which was leading the IRC Division 2 series with four wins from five races, and Trumpcard, which was sailing in the IRC Passage Class.

Ichi Ban consolidates at Airlie Beach Race Week

Matt Allen pulled off his fourth straight win at Airlie Beach Race Week today to consolidate his lead in in IRC Racing Division 1, after a long day on the water, with racing starting at 9.30am this morning in 20-25 knot winds with big gusts.

Only one more race remains to be sailed at the Whitsunday Sailing Club's popular annual regatta, and Allen is in an almost unbeatable situation with Ray Roberts' Farr 55, OneSails Racing, four points in arrears after finishing the maiden again today.

OneSails moved back up into second place yesterday following a protest against the race committee in regards to Race 4, which resulted in Zen, Quest, The Goat and Hartbreaker being scored TLE (Time Limit Expired).

Ichi Ban, a TP52, and OneSails Racing share the same handicap, and although Roberts won the opening race, he hasn't been able to get a look in since, with Ichi Ban getting faster by the day. In today's race, which took Ichi Ban 4 hours 23 minutes and 36 seconds to complete, Roberts trailed by two minutes.

More Noise (Jason Close) in IRC Racing 2 and Trumpcard (Blake Boulton) and Belle (Doug Painter) both in IRC Passage, were given redress for going to the assistance of Cool Change, Bob Critchley's multihull which capsized on the course today.

The redress keeps More Noise in the lead of Division 2, as it had already won four out of five races, placing the Archambault 31 just over seven points in front of its nearest rival, Roger Hickman's Wild Rose.

Wild Rose, a 30 year-old Farr 43, has been in a tight tussle with the more modern Sydney 36 Cruiser/Racer, The Philosopher's Club (Peter Sorensen), throughout the event. Following today's win, Sorensen is now in third place overall, just one point behind Wild Rose, which finished second today.

"What a fantastic race," Sorensen said this afternoon. "It was 22 knots going up the beat and big seas, making it a tactically difficult race, but my boat loves those sorts of conditions. By the time we were running for home, the seas had flattened out, so life was easier."

'Sorro' said it has been a tough week trying to beat both More Noise and Wild Rose.

"Finally a win, I can't believe it. More Noise keeps winning and there is never more than 200 metres between us and Wild Rose - every day we have a battle with them - I wish they'd go away," the champion Sydney yachtsman said with a grin.

"I thought they had us, but they couldn't get their (spinnaker) pole down at the last bottom mark and we took advantage from a slight left hand shift," Sorensen finished.

Jason Close was disappointed not to be able to continue in the race which took the boats from Pioneer Bay to Dent Passage, the Molles, to Whitsunday Passage and home, as the heavier 20-25 knot winds that gusted to 30 knots, were right up his alley.

Instead, Close stood by a fellow competitor, the multihull Cool Change (Bob Critchley) which capsized at North Molle. "It wasn't a choice, that is what you do in sailing," Close said.

Sportsboat promise kept

Graham Sherring, the owner/skipper of Stay Tuned, made good his promise at Airlie Beach Race Week today, when the Sports Boats contested four windward/leeward courses and the Queenslander moved to within one point of the lead with a day of racing remaining.

This morning Sherring said the predicted 30 knot south-easterly would play right into his boat's hands, giving him hope of beating his two main rivals, Vivace (John Rae) and fellow Southport Yacht Club member, Noel Leigh-Smith with Viper.

Vivace led the Series going into the day, while Stay Tuned was sitting in third. Sherring sailed his Leech 650 to 3-1-2-1 results, which leaves him in second place overall and one point adrift of Vivace, which was favoured to win the event coming in and posted 1-4-1-2 results today.

Tyee III looking the goods in Multihull Passage

With a scorecard showing he has not strayed outside the top three, John Williams and his Tyee III look to have the Multihull Passage title stitched up. Tyee III is four points clear of his nearest rivals – three of them are tied on 14 points apiece.

With just one day remaining, tomorrow's final race will decide the fate of Fiona Kermeen's Mon Amie, Richard Jenkins' Kestrel and David Davenport's Misty Sea, which won today's Race 5. One will miss a podium place in this hotly contested class.

'Mojo' working well for Peter Wilcox at Airlie Beach Race Week

Peter Wilcox well and truly has his mojo back, leading the Multihull Racing class with his Schionninggforce1500 design, 'Mojo' at Whitsunday Sailing Club's Airlie Beach Race Week, heading into the last day of racing tomorrow.

Second place today means a two-point Series lead for Wilcox over nearest competitor, APC Mad Max, a Grainger 10 owned by Tony Considine. Today's winner, Andrew Stransky (Fantasia), is a further two points behind in third place overall.

Victories in Races 2 and 3 have given Mojo the small jump on its competitors, "all of them top boats," according to Wilcox who represents the Multihull Yacht Club Queensland. In fact, Mojo's worst result in the event has been third place.

The Multihull division crews, along with other classes at Airlie Beach Race Week, struggled at times in the heavy winds.

"Add to that the lumpy and bumpy seaway and sailing against the tide on the first leg, and you have very challenging conditions," said Wilcox, adding: "It was very hard to steer the boat."

Forecasts were for south-easterly 20 to 25 knot winds, but went beyond, keeping all competitors on the ball.

"It was hectic, a top-end breeze. It was a tough day at the office. It was cranking low to mid 20's, and 28 knots at the top end. Both my boat and crew worked hard the whole time," the Queenslander said.

"We've got one race to go, so today was about minimising damage," said Wilcox who admitted his boat and crew are comfortable in big conditions, of which more are expected tomorrow.

Wilcox and Mojo have been away competing on the Asian circuit at the Kings Cup, Raja Muda and others for the past two years, having left Australia after the 2012 Brisbane Gladstone Race.

"It's great to be home and to be at Airlie Beach Race Week. It's such a great fleet here," he said of the large entry list of 18 of the best multihulls from Australia wide.

The school teacher said being here is not just about racing and winning, "It's the great camaraderie in our class. We were very sorry about Cool Change capsizing today.

"From my perspective, this is sport, and as such, you have to enjoy it. That's always been my philosophy. It's a great sport; people of all ages can take part. My crew's ages are from 17 to 65 years.

"We're all here having a great time this week, loving every minute," Wilcox ended.

The Series' early leader, the highly fancied Morticia (Shaun Carroll) helmed by Chris Williams, has dropped to fourth overall, courtesy of a fifth place today and fifth place in Race 3. But Williams had already said they did not expect to win, having reconfigured the boat for racing at events in the Mediterranean.

Full results and all information on Airlie Beach Race Week at: www.abrw.com.au