Exile,Loki and Kokomo shine in 2010

by SOL WALKLING on 30 Nov 2010 Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship - Showing the competition how it's done, the team on Exile with Rob Reynolds owner and skipper and Julie Hodder, MHYC’s Commodore and tactician, have convincingly won the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship's (SSORC) IRC Grand Prix division in conditions going from perfect to poor with winds ranging from over 20 knots on Day 1 to three knots on Day 2.

'We're testing our form for the Audi IRC Australian titles,' said Reynolds after the race. 'It was our first shakedown.' The core crew who has been with Reynolds for six to seven years said the first day was tiring and no one wanted to do the fourth race. But they were happy with the race committee's decision to shorten today's second and last race in dying winds.

Commodore Julie Hodder said 'It’s been a well-sailed series for all with great competitors - Kerisma, The Philosophers Club, Wild Rose, L'Alttra Donna, Swish and The Goat - even though it had been disappointing to see the numbers down in the Grand Prix ivision. But, on the upside, she added: 'Overall numbers in the regatta were up. And we had perfect conditions yesterday.'

Stephen Ainsworth's Loki was the favourite for the Gun Boat Trophy in the IRC Ocean Passage Series, flying past South Head an hour ahead of the remainder of the fleet to take line honours on both days. He covered the first day's 24-nautical-mile course in a speedy three hours and one minute.

On day 1, Wot Eva, Quest and Ginger also crossed the line around thirty minutes after Loki - fighting for every second within two minutes of each other. The IRC & PHS Ocean Passage Series fleet was mixed ranging from performance cruiser/racers to IRC racing yachts. The results also showed a mixed spread across the top contenders with provisional IRC results showing Loki taking first place on IRC with Leslie Green's Swan 601 Ginger looking set to claim second place and Bruce Hogan on Perpetual Mocean third place with Balance, Pirelli Celestial and Wot Eva close behind.

Record numbers joined the SSORC’s inshore Seven Island Race on Saturday, leading to navigational challenges and wrapped spinnakers in a tight spot under Sydney Harbour Bridge.

MHYC Sailing Manager Brendan Rourke said, 'The conditions were perfect for Saturday’s three-hour inshore race. Instead of the forecast storm and 30-knot wind, boats were greeted with a steady 15 knots that didn’t pick up until well into the race and the weather stayed beautiful with only the red tinged clouds of a fire marring the scenery.

Gold medal swimmer Ben Austin, guest aboard Shortwave for the race, enjoyed drinks with the Short family, said he had no expectations as he'd never been near a sailing yacht before but had helped grinding at the start of the race before finding his sea legs ducking the boom and quickly learning to get across to the high side. He said sailing aboard Shortwave had been 'just amazing'. 'I love sailing,' he said. 'I had no idea how challenging it can be. I'll be back for an offshore race.'

RESULTS
IRC OCEAN PASSAGE SERIES

1 – LOKI – Steven Ainsworth
2 – GINGER – Leslie Green
3 – WOT EVA – David Pescud

FARR 40 OD

1 – KOKOMO – Lang Walker
2 – WHITE CLOUD – Brett Neill
3 – ESTATE MASTER – Martin Hill

IRC GRAND PRIX DIVISION
1 – EXILE – Robert Reynolds
2 – WILD ROSE – Roger Hickman
3 – THE GOAT – Bruce Foye