Local sailor early leader at Henning Harders OK Dinghy Nationals

by Di Pearson on 9 Jan 2017 Peter Horne has taken out the opening race and finished second in Race two of the Henning Harders 55th OK Dinghy Nationals to take an early lead in the event hosted by Drummoyne Sailing Club where he is a member.

Horne, a pre-event favourite with his ‘Another Crack’ has started his campaign well. Meanwhile, Wangi Wangi Sailing Club’s Tim Davies won Race two and finished sixth in race one, leaving him second overall, but on equal seven points with fellow Wangi Wangi sailor, Mark Skelton and 2009 champion Andrea Blasse – all among the favourites coming into the Championship.

“It was tight in the first race – five of us rounded the top mark close together,” Horne said. “Then Andre (Blasse) got a bit of a lead and Tim was up there too with Mark Jackson and Mark Skelton,” he said.

Horne and Jackson were close in both races, according to Davies: “but Peter and I got the early jump in the second race,” he said.

Horne added: “I led the second race, but Tim caught and passed me on the square run.”

The 2009 Australian champion, Andre Blasse from Black Rock Yacht Club in Victoria, is sitting fourth overall, despite a lay off from sailing due to a shoulder injury and subsequent operation. Prior to racing this morning, Blasse was insistent, “I’m not in form, although my shoulder’s healed. I’m just out there to make up the numbers,” he maintained. Obviously not.

Defending champion, Mark Jackson, a fellow club member of Blasse’s is in seventh place after finishing fourth and 12th today – but there are still eight races in the offing and Jackson has won the title for the past five years.

“He probably got caught in a pack in the second race, and once you’re there, it’s hard to get out in these conditions,” Davies said.

Both Peter Horne and Tim Davies admitted they were pleased to have the early jump on the fleet, in particular Jackson.

“It’s definitely nice to have a little lead over Mark Jackson,” said Horne. “Local knowledge definitely helped – today. But I think he’ll be there at the end of the regatta, because he’s very consistent – hardly does a thing wrong,” he said.

Davies agreed: “It’s lovely to have an early jump on Mark. It’s good to have a couple of good results in the bag. I have to try to hold on now. Consistency will be the key at the end of the week.”

Lovely summer conditions with moderate seven - eleven knot breezes flicking between east, east nor’ east and north-east on the triangle windward return race. There was little opportunity of passing lanes on the downwind legs today.

Elizabeth Williams, the only female in the fleet, is holding her own against the blokes. The Sandgate Sailing Club (Qld) sailor is 19th overall from 36 competitors, her best place 12th in race one.

Representing the host club, James Pagett is the youngest in the Championship at 17 and is also holding up against his seniors, in 29th overall.

Mike Walker (DSC) and Jim Ley (Woollahra Sailing Club) are glowing evidence of how the more mature age can keep fit and stay young. Both in their 70’s, the pair remain competitive in this single person class – a great advertisement for sailing and those they compete against.

Racing at the Henning Harders OK Dinghy Nationals continues tomorrow. Held over five days and starting from 1pm daily, officials are aiming for two races per day, with a maximum of 10 races to be sailed.

Overall Scratch

Plc	Sail No	Boat Name (Boat Type)	Skipper/Crew	From	Race 1 9-Jan	Race 2 9-Jan	Drop	Total
1	AUS 762	Another Crack OK Dinghy	Peter Horne	DSC NSW	1	2	0	3
2	AUS 739	Don't Poke the Bear OK Dinghy	Tim Davies	WWSC NSW	6	1	0	7
3	AUS 753	JAB OK Dinghy	Mark Skelton	WWSC NSW	2	5	0	7
4	AUS 729	Ironhide OK Dinghy	Andre Blasse	BRYC VIC	3	4	0	7
5	AUS 750	Broken Arrow OK Dinghy	Peter Robinson	DSC NSW	10	3	0	13
6	AUS 733	The Plot Against Common Sense OK Dinghy	Folkert Janssen	BRYC VIC	5	9	0	14
7	AUS 768	Invictus OK Dinghy	Mark Jackson	BRYC VIC	4	12	0	16
8	AUS 708	Green Eggs and Ham OK Dinghy	Kelvin Holdt	SYC QLD	8	8	0	16
9	AUS 754	Gunboat Diplomat OK Dinghy	Brent Williams	ASC SA	11	6	0	17
10	AUS 757	Total Recall OK Dinghy	Mark Rutherford	DSC NSW	7	14	0	21
11	AUS 704	Occasional Kudos OK Dinghy	Robert Chapman	DSC NSW	14	10	0	24
12	AUS 766	JoJoFrog OK Dinghy	Bob Buchanan	HYC TAS	18	7	0	25
13	AUS 732	Squid Grip OK Dinghy	Benjamin Downey	SYC QLD	9	17	0	26
14	AUS 734	Cracked Pecker OK Dinghy	Edward O'Donnell	WWSC NSW	13	18.5	0	31.5
15	AUS 741	Turkish Delight OK Dinghy	Steve Wilson	BRYC VIC	17	15	0	32
16	AUS 746	Penguin Goes Woosh OK Dinghy	Peter Wallace	MHASC NSW	15	18.5	0	33.5
17	AUS 725	Joan's Respite OK Dinghy	David Ketteridge	ASC SA	21	13	0	34
18	AUS 742	Schmacko OK Dinghy	Gareth Wells	WWSC NSW	24	11	0	35
19	AUS 759	Sense & Cents OK Dinghy	Elizabeth Williams	SSC QLD	12	24	0	36
20	AUS 736	Space Monkey OK Dinghy	Grant Wakefield	DSC NSW	22	16	0	38
21	AUS 726	Bundy OK Dinghy	Peter Lynch	WWSC NSW	16	23	0	39
22	AUS 767	Pleasure & Pain OK Dinghy	Glenn Yates	WWSC NSW	19	25	0	44
23	AUS 761	Captain Pugwash OK Dinghy	Mark Fisher	BRYC VIC	30	20	0	50
24	AUS 735	The Fox OK Dinghy	Rob Way	DSC NSW	20	30	0	50
25	AUS 680	Ajax OK Dinghy	Phil Barnett	SFS NSW	29	21	0	50
26	AUS 740	Blues in Sea OK Dinghy	Richard Furneaux	BRYC VIC	28	22	0	50
27	AUS 688	Shakey OK Dinghy	David Haseldine	DSC NSW	23	28	0	51
28	AUS 738	Famous Blue Raincoat OK Dinghy	Kevin Knott	ASC SA	27	27	0	54
29	AUS 786	Captain Crackers OK Dinghy	James Pagett	DSC NSW	26	29	0	55
30	AUS 75	Pale Rider OK Dinghy	Andrew Stephenson	DSC NSW	31	26	0	57
31	AUS 655	The Phantom OK Dinghy	Michael Walker	DSC NSW	25	33	0	58
32	AUS 695	The Wife OK Dinghy	David Vincent	SYC QLD	32	32	0	64
33	AUS 716	Joker OK Dinghy	David Swales	DSC NSW	35	31	0	66
34	AUS 706	Smoke on the Water OK Dinghy	Erik Thompson	SSC QLD	33	34	0	67
35	AUS 667	Rip Snorter OK Dinghy	James Ley	WSC NSW	34	35	0	69
36	AUS 679	The Rose OK Dinghy	Bruce Schofield	WWSC NSW	36	36	0	72