2015 Botany Bay Race – Winner announced

by Di Pearson on 6 Nov 2015 Near perfect conditions propelled the Ker 46 Midnight Rambler to provisional victory in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Botany Bay Race last weekend, but a protest by Steven Proud’s Swish has meant a penalty for Midnight Rambler, and promotes Howard Piggott’s Beneteau First 40 to the winner’s seat.

Nine Dragons, the DK46 owned by Bob Cox from Middle Harbour, moved to second overall and Julian Farren-Price’s Cookson 12, About Time to third. There was only a three-second difference between Flying Cloud and Nine Dragons finish time, once the handicaps were applied, suggesting the two enjoyed an exceptionally close race.

Along with Midnight Rambler, the top three fought hard for every mile, in what has been described by Piggott as “One of the closest races I have been in. It was quite exciting from the start to the finish – could it get any closer?”

“We had a lovely spinnaker ride down the coast, and even though we were sailing into the wind on the way back, it was a beautiful day of sailing,” said Piggott, who along with the rest of the fleet enjoyed the sunny warm day and north-easterly winds that herald the beginning of summer.

As a result of the protest by Swish, Midnight Rambler has been penalised six places after the two were involved in a port and starboard incident. Co-owner and skipper of the yacht, Ed Psaltis, has indicated he will appeal the jury’s decision.

Race two of the OPS started on time at 10am on Sydney Harbour. Principal Race Officer, Robyn Morton, said: “We started them in a nice north to north-easterly of 10-12 knots, but there was more pressure the further they got down the Harbour, around 15-16 knots. “We got 25 starters away in perfectly pleasant conditions on an incoming tide.”

The fleet split almost in two off the start, some choosing the eastern side, the rest going west, which they seemed to benefit from.

A cunning move by Michael Cranitch and David Gotze’s Triton, sailing inside Paul Clitheroe’s Balance at the Lady Bay Gas Buoy, positioned her to be first boat out of the Harbour. The race was on.

It was a quick downhill ride to Botany Bay, with the fleet under spinnaker, but the return journey was not as comfortable, with fleet beating into the breeze.

Division one boats arrived back at the finish line in quick succession, led by the LC60 Triton, which finished at 13.41, followed by two TP52s; Sam Haynes’ Celestial three minutes later and Balance under one minute behind her.

Adrian van Bellen’s J/122 continued her great performances of last season, winning the race under ORCi, beating second placed About Time by over two minutes. Sam Haynes’ TP52 Celestial claimed third place. In PHS, Robert Blanch steered the Salona 44, Last Tango, to a big win over Edward Tooher’s Beneteau 44.7, Chancellor, with Flying Cloud filling out the final podium place.

The Port Hacking Race is the third race of the Ocean Pointscore Series, starting at 10am on Saturday November 14.