J109 Sweet Chariot wins North Sydney Cup
by John Sturrock on 21 Mar 2006
Ray and Sandra Entwistle deceptively quick J109 'Sweet Chariot' took handicap honours from 'Slightly Underrated' (David Cutcliffe and R. Patterson – BSC) and Plus 16 (Sal Ridulfo – GFS).
The 2006 North Sydney Cup was sailed in two divisions on Sydney Harbour on Sunday March 12th.
A race-long duel between Ian Guanaria’s quick Mumm 36 'Georgia Express' and Clark Davies Elliott 11 'Midnight Oil' resulted in the boats charging side-by-side up Sydney Harbour and under the Bridge – 'Midnight Oil' with her big kite and 'Georgia Express' flying her masthead asymmetric after damaging her spinnaker on a previous leg.
Midnight Oil squeezed across the line just 55 seconds ahead to take out line honours.
However both yachts were upstaged by the Entwistle's J109 'Sweet Chariot' which took handicap honours, repeating her performance from the Australia Day Regatta.
In Division 2, line honours went to Balmain personality Erica Kirby in her International 5.5 'Roast Beef' while Tony Webb’s consistent East Coast 31 'Invader' sailed another solid race to take out the handicap prize from 'Roast Beef' and Allan Rintoul’s Beneteau 311 'Out Of The Blue'.
Competitors adjourned to the Sydney Flying Squadron rooms at Careening Cove for presentations and wash the salt out of their throats – where the Club Challenge was taken out by BPYC with 'Invader' and 'Out of the Blue' posting good finishes – supported by Casey Joosse’s Jarkan 12.5 'She’s Apples Two'.
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