2015 Airlie Beach Race Week – Mojo working well for Peter Wilcox

by Di Pearson on 13 Aug 2015

Multihulls line up to start - 2015 Airlie Beach Race Week JMA / RAMMB / CIRA

2015 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, 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 two and three 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 three. But Williams had already said they did not expect to win, having reconfigured the boat for racing at events in the Mediterranean.

Hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club, racing at the ‘Tropical Festival of Sailing’ finishes tomorrow.

Mojo about to pop from behind an outcrop - 2015 Airlie Beach Race Week © JMA / RAMMB / CIRA

Multi-Hull Racing

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Sers Score	Race 6	Race 5	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1	M165	MOJO	Peter Wilcox	MYCQ	9.0	2.0	3.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	[3.0]
2	V2	APC MAD MAX	George Owen	MYCV	11.0	4.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	3.0	[4.0]
3	641	FANTASIA	Andrew Stransky	MYCQ	13.0	1.0	2.0	[19.0R]	4.0	4.0	2.0
4	3002	MORTICIA	Chris Williams	RMYC	15.0	5.0	4.0	3.0	[5.0]	2.0	1.0
5	SA532	CARBON CREDIT	Peter Hawker	RSAYS	28.0	[19.0F]	5.0	6.0	3.0	8.0	6.0
6	N888	THE BOAT WORKS	Julian Griffiths	NYRC	29.0	3.0	8.0	4.0	7.0	7.0	[8.0]
7	M1480	RENAISSANCE	Mike Hodges	MYCQ	30.0	6.0	9.0	5.0	[9.0]	5.0	5.0
8	SA432	CROSSHAIR	Gerald Valk	RSAYS	35.0	7.0	6.0	8.0	8.0	6.0	[12.0]
9	N11	TWO UP TOGETHER	Justin Grunwald	RMYC	51.0	8.0	11.0	7.0	[17.0]	15.0	10.0
10	V3	BARE ESSENTIALS	Tim Pepperell	MYCV	52.5	[19.0F]	7.0	9.0	13.0	12.5	11.0
11	BFC55	BAREFOOT	Warren Innes	CYC	53.0	9.0	10.0	10.0	10.0	14.0	[15.0]
12	339	QUICK SKIPS	Peter Millar	WSC	54.0	10.0	[14.0]	13.0	11.0	11.0	9.0
13	WH3801	J'OUVERT	Stephen Barton	RMYC	60.0	19.0C	19.0C	[19.0F]	6.0	9.0	7.0
14	WH1093	COOL CHANGE	Bob Critchley	MYC	61.0	[19.0F]	12.0	11.0	15.0	10.0	13.0
15	449	DUX NUTTS	Peter Boyd	RSAYS	63.5	[19.0C]	13.0	12.0	12.0	12.5	14.0
16	PC101	NO PROBLEM	Ray Hobbs	PCSC	80.0	19.0F	15.0	14.0	16.0	[19.0R]	16.0
17	W111	SIROCCO	M Arthur	WSC	81.0	19.0C	[19.0C]	15.0	14.0	16.0	17.0
18	AUS57	EARTHLING	Glenn Rutherford	MYCQ	95.0	19.0C	19.0C	19.0C	19.0C	19.0C	[19.0C]