Cameron Miles granted OCS redress

by Peter Campbell on 6 Aug 2004 The International Jury at the ACE Etchells World Championship last night reinstated former World Champion Cameron Miles to third place in yesterday’s race six of the series, finding that the Race Committee had erred in scoring him OCS (on course side) as a premature starter.

While Miles, from the Pittwater fleet, is still second overall with two races to sail, he is now only three points behind Peter McNeill, from Lake Macquarie, compared with the 13 points difference in yesterday’s original provisional results.

McNeill, skippering Tom Pepper XVII, is on 34 points, Miles, sailing Pacesetter, on 37 points while in third place is Mornington yesterday Grant Wharington in Satu II, on 53 points.

After hearing evidence from the crew of Pacesetter and viewing video evidence, the International Jury granted redress under Racing Rule 62.1, finding that their was sufficient doubt that the boat had been OCS.

However, the Jury denied redress for two other competitors, The Croc, skippered by Michael Manford from Perth, and North Sydney, helmed by Michael Coxon from Sydney.

The Melbourne boat, Barry White, skippered by Damien King was disqualified from race five after a protest by Mooloolaba entrant Whooshka (Lucas Down) over a tacking incident at the mark under Rule 18.3 Tacking at a Mark.

Today’s race seven is scheduled to start at 10am, with southwesterly winds of 15-25 knots forecast for this morning.

Ten top boats after six races, with one discard:

1. Tom Pepper XVIII (Peter McNeill, Lake Macquarie) 2-8-11-(13)-9-4, 34 points.
2. Pacesetter (Cameron Miles, Pittwater)11-(12)-8-5-11-3, 37 points
3. Satu II (Grant Wharington, Mornington) (49)-19-17-4-10-3, 53 points
4. Squid (Chris Pratt, Adelaide) 9-(40)-6-25-11-7, 58 points
5. Zulu (Andrew Hunn, Hobart) 7-7-19-14-(50)-13, 60 points
6. Menace (Dennis Conner, San Diego) 23-11-(44)-8-2-19, 63 points
7. Satu (Glen Collings, Mornington) 14-23-16-12-(28)-1, 66 points
8. Racer XY (Jason Muir, Brisbane) 6-(61)-7-6-6-43, 68 points
9. Odyssey (Julian Plante, Pittwater) 13-1-29-18-(42)-8, 69 points
10. Fast Forward (Bruce McBair, Melbourne), 12-10-9-9-(43)-35, 75 points.