Sydney Harbour Regatta at Middle Harbour Yacht Club - Day 1
by Di Pearson, MHYC media 5 Mar 2016 07:13 GMT
5-6 March 2016
Ichi Ban strikes gold as Nine Dragons lives up to promise
Matt Allen sailed Ichi Ban to three straight wins on the first day of Middle Harbour Yacht Club's 2016 Sydney Harbour Regatta this afternoon, shutting the gate on his fellow TP52s – 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Balance (Paul Clitheroe) and class newcomers Andy Kearnan and Peter Wrigley with Koa, who are second and third respectively.
The trio finished top three under ORCi as well, replicating their IRC results – Balance with a pair of second places and Koa with a pair of thirds.
"Good racing conditions," Yachting Australia president Matt Allen said. "There was a big right-hand shift in the first race up the beat. There was a lot of current too, so you had to overlay what you were going to do," he said.
"Once the breeze settled down, it was good – an interesting race track. After the first beat the breeze went more left, which helped us, because it meant we could dictate terms."
On the run in all three races, Ichi Ban got away from her rivals. It is well known the former Shogun V is the fastest downwind of the TP52's racing in Australia.
Allen added, "All the starts were quite close, but we eked out any gains we could."
Bob Cox held true to his crew's promise of last week, tired of playing second fiddle to fellow DK 46, Khaleesi, owned by Andrew and Pauline Dally. They felt all was coming together well after taking line and overall honours in a short ocean race last week and they were right, as Nine Dragons won three from three, with Khaleesi scoring a trio of second places.
"We're very happy as we've been working hard at getting the rig settings right," Cox said this afternoon from the host club, where he is a member. "We'd been left in the wilderness a bit with our sistership (Khaleesi) beating us regularly."
Cox said having North's Michael Coxon on tactics and strategy "helped tremendously. He made a big contribution, and that in turn lifted the crew to do their best in the lovely conditions – 8-15 knots on flat seas.
"We can't rest on our laurels though, because Khaleesi is snapping at our heels. We can't afford to put a foot wrong tomorrow."
In Division 3, The Philosopher's Club (Peter Sorensen) ended the day in first place after notching up two victories and a third place, but is on equal pints with last year's Division 2 winner, Phil Dash's JustADash, which pushed The Philosopher's Club hard with a pair of second places and a win.
Matt Bassett, who has kept Local Hero's name in the news of late with some brilliant performances, held on for third overall after scoring two third places and a fourth.
Over 170 boats are taking part in this year's Sydney Harbour Regatta, is just 10 days away and over 150 boat owners have pledged their support for the 11th running of the autumn event, among them some high profile names.
For all information on the Sydney Harbour Regatta go to www.shr.mhyc.com.au
VX-One NSW Championship
Andrew York rose to the occasion with Speedwagon in his defence of the VX-One Championship, winning three from three races in style today. The well-named boat had superior speed and her crew better boat handling skills. Only last year's runner-up, Fred Kasparek's Weapon of Choice from the ACT, was able to get within cooee of the leader, scoring a trio of second places.
"We got off the start quite well in all three races, but the gains were made in the swell, which our competitors aren't used to sailing in, so that held us in good stead. There were big left and right hand shifts to overcome too," York said this afternoon.
Lovely north and north-easterly winds beckoned crews. At around 10 knots for the midday start, York said, "There were gusts to 16 or 17 knots as the breeze increased through the day. We got a top speed of 16 knots out of the boat."
Damien Widdy's Finger Jam, all from Southport in Queensland. Widdy is new to the class, having purchased the boat out of New Zealand, but his crew sailed well enough to stamp their claim on third place in this exciting class.
Andrew York said numbers in the class were on the increase. "Particularly in Queensland; there are seven VX-Ones sailing out of there.
Yngling NSW Championship
Reigning state champion, Hamish Jarrett and his 'Miss Pibb' kept the dream alive, two bullets and a third place giving him a one-point lead over triple Olympian Karen Gojnich (Evie) going into Day 2 of the Sydney Harbour Regatta. While Miss Pibb won the first two races, Evie struck back to take victory in Race 3, adding to her second and third places in the earlier two races.
Cavalier 28 NSW Championship
Even though Peter Donnelly's Flying Circus took out the opening race, Craig Mitchell's defence of his Cavalier 28 NSW title got off to a good start, with Centaurius winning the remaining two races to lead the Championship by three points from David Brown's Quattro, with Greg Purcell's Scuttlebutt on equal points with Quattro in third place.
'James' all the way in J70 class
With reigning champion, Ray Entwistle (Jedi), having sold his boat which is now racing at this regatta as Javelin, the coast was clear for last year's runner-up, Tim Ryan, who sailed James to three successive wins.
It was not as simple as it sounds though, as numbers are on the increase in the class. Eight yachts jockeyed for position on the start line in all three races, making for exciting starts and racing in general.
However, when the chips were down, Tim Ryan pulled out all stops and although it was a close finish in Race 1, after James crossed the start line early and had to return, he had clean wins in Races 2 and 3.
Brent Lawson's Jester is currently second overall after pulling out 3-2-3 results, with Stuart Suthern-Brunt's Grasshopper Unit scoring 2-6-4 results for third place.
Ryan said after racing: "It's great having more boats in the class; it's the best boat I've ever sailed."
Of James' results he said, "We got a little in front, with everyone fighting out behind us. The races were very close and exciting. All the boats are going well, including the newer ones to the class and I think racing will be even tighter tomorrow."
Super 11s
This is the first time Super 11's have raced as a group in Sydney and it was exciting racing with a mix of Melges,32s, MC38's and Shaw 10 and 11 metre boats.
Adrian Walters' 11 Metre Rob Shaw designed, 'Little Nico', ruled the roost with 1-2-1 results. Chris Way's Melges 32, Easy Tiger III is in second place, just two points away after winning the second race. Jonathan Green's Melges 32, Crusader currently fills out third place, a further two points behind.
Historical 18 Footers
With a strong north-easterly this afternoon, in time for the Historical 18's handicap start from 2pm this afternoon, the race was always going to belong to John 'Woody' Winning, despite Aberdare being scratch boat. Winning has never made a secret out of his love of sailing in heavier winds, and today's suited Aberdare down to the ground.
Britannia, helmed by Ian Smith, finished second and the Robin Tickner steered Alruth was third.
PHS fleet
The PHS divisions make up a large percentage of the fleet at the Sydney Harbour Regatta. Mike Gallagher's Galan is on top in Division 1, after a win and a second place, overcoming a challenge from Larki Missiris' Buildrite/G&R Isuzu, which scored fourth place and a win. David Lees' Farr 'N Away is third, a further point behind, with a pair of third places.
Division 2 is led by Mortgage Choice Rumba, skippered by Kerry Burke, while Carl Sriber's beautiful timber classic, Suraya, leads Division 3.