Fay and Frew early leaders in Cherub NSW State Championships

by Rolf Lunsmann on 24 Oct 2011
Kris Fay and Morgan Frew from Belmont 16ft Sailing Club established a strong lead in the first of four rounds of the 2011-12 Cherub NSW State Championships on the weekend.

Taking two wins and a second form the three races sailed at Abbotsford 12ft Flying Squadron and Drummoyne Sailing Club they will be taking a four point lead into the next round of races scheduled for November. Reinforcing the Fay family stranglehold on the leader board, Kris’s father Trevor Fay, sailing with Nathan Chipchase, holds down second place ahead of Claire and Rolf Lunsmann from Lane Cove.

Both days of racing took place in light 10 to 12 kt nor-easterlies giving some of the lighter and less experienced crews the opportunity to share some of the top placings class heavyweights. Kirk Mitchell and Michael Kurts, from Drummoyne Sailing Club, were one crew who excelled in the lighter breezes finishing with two third places and one eighth to be fourth overall.

The results of Race One at Abbotsford on Sunday came down to the tactical skill of Fay and Chipchase as they gybed their way down the return leg of the windward leeward course taking advantage of the best of the gusts on offer while protecting a narrow lead. In Race Two the tables were turned with Fay and Frew getting to the lead early and maintaining it through to the finish despite being pressed by the Lunsmanns.

After a big, Cherub-style, party night, racing resumed at Drummoyne on Sunday.

The second day of racing saw the fleet start in similar breeze conditions but with a long race format and slightly more space on the Upper Harbour. The Belmont crew of Ryan Clifton-Smith and Tom Drury set up an early lead from Fay and Chipchase, with Fay and Frew trailing in third hard pressed by local Drummoyne crew Jen Pagett and Andrew Stephenson. As the race progressed Fay and Frew pegged back the leaders on the second work.

The final results in Race Three gave the first four places to Belmont boats, putting pay to the myth that the Lake Macquarie crews struggle with the tricky breezes and tides of the Upper Harbour.

Fay and Frew’s second win of the round provided them with a handy break on the fleet heading into the second round due to be sailed on their home waters at Belmont on 26-27 November.