2014 Rolex Big Boat Series - Australian crews climbing Farr 40 ladder

by Peter Campbell on 13 Sep 2014 2014 Rolex Big Boat Series - Australia’s two Farr 40 yachts contesting the hotly-contested Farr 40 one-design class at St Francis Yacht Club’s 50th Rolex Big Boat Series have each moved up one place overall, Voodoo Chile to fourth and Estate Master to sixth, after day two of the regatta.

Voodoo Chile, with co-owner Andrew Hunn from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania on the helm, did not have a good start to the day, finishing ninth in race three but improved as the breeze freshened to 16-18 knots, gusting to 22 knots, placing a close third in race four.

The Tasmanian team is now fourth overall on 23 points, only three points out of third place and has extended its overall lead in the Corinthian division.

Lisa and Martin Hill’s Estate Master from Middle Harbour Yacht Club had two sixth places, lifting the Sydneysiders to sixth overall on 26 points.

Two of the longest-tenured and most popular American owners in the Farr 40 class enjoyed tremendous success on the water during the second day and made significant moves in the standings as a result.

Santa Barbara skipper John Demourkas and his crew aboard Groovederci jumped from fourth to second in the overall standings with a pair of runner-up finishes. Meanwhile, German owner Wolfgang Schaefer rebounded from a tough opening day to win Race three and place third in Race four and make a dramatic move into fifth overall.

New York skipper Alex Roepers and his team on Plenty continued to set the pace - taking third in the first race and winning the second on day two to extend their lead to six points.

Plenty has displayed superb boat speed in post a strong score line of two – one – three - one for a low score of seven points, six better than Groovederci on 13 points.

'We are very happy with our performance today. We seem to constantly have a slight edge in speed on the upwind legs. We have made gains every time on the beats,' Roepers said.