Maserati Twilight Regatta - MC38 season grand finale

Maserati wins Maserati Twilight - Maserati Twilight Regatta 2014. Ellen - McConaghy Boats

Start off Kirribilli - Maserati Twilight Regatta 2014. © Ellen - McConaghy Boats

Owners agreed to cancel Monday night’s opening program due to the hostage drama in Sydney’s CBD. Tuesday night strong winds of 25 plus knots gusting up to 33 knots and rough seas forced the postponement of racing. Tonight the fleet got their chance, enjoying 9-14 knots sou’east breezes on a lovely evening course starting straight off the host Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron at Kirribilli up around Clarke Island and back.

Maserati’s boat captain Wade Morgan said, 'It was pretty interesting, puffy and 20 degree shifts at times. We sailed tactically smart thanks to Cocko (Michael Coxon) and it was a nice evening on the harbour. We had some good puffs come through at 13-14 knots and even at the finish it was still 9-10 knots.

'Neville is really enjoying the class and the learning curve. This result is a rewarding stage of our progression,' Morgan added.

After Maserati’s debut regatta in Pittwater late last month the team analysed their performance and organised a training day to focus on their weaker points. Tonight the class’ greenest owner, whose three year hiatus from dominating the sport’s upper tier ended when he took delivery of his new MC38 in early October, is the overall winner of the season grand finale.

Assassin and Dark Star - Maserati Twilight Regatta 2014. © Ellen - McConaghy Boats

Just like MC38 Association President John Bacon forewarned at the conclusion of the preceding Blackmore’s regatta, where his Dark Star prevailed, 'Don’t worry, we know these guys are coming back at us.'

Vino and Kokomo - Maserati Twilight Regatta 2014. © Ellen - McConaghy Boats

Second by four points was Leslie Green’s Ginger and third was Lang Walker’s Kokomo.

Marcus Blackmore’s Hooligan wasn’t able to race this evening due to a pivotal crewmember being ill and Murray Gordon steered Dark Star for Bacon.

'A lot of things conspired against the regatta,' said Bacon. 'As a group we felt we needed to respect the situation and the people caught up in the siege at Martin Place and not sail on Monday night. Last night’s wind was out of range, gusting to the mid-30s in the middle of the harbour and the committee felt a short runway at the bottom mark was too risky as it left no margin for error. Tonight we managed three races in great conditions to finish off the year.'

Crichton wasn’t the only class newcomer to make waves this evening, Robin Crawford’s Assassin picked up a second in the third and final race, one of his best results since joining the one design ranks this year.
The Maserati series brings to an end the 2014 calendar year for the MC38s. The Association has a new pointscore series planned for 2015 from February to November including the standalone Australian title at RPAYC in April, 10-12, and their own division at Hamilton Island Race Week in August for the third year. Full calendar at event website.

Maserati MC38 Twilight Regatta 2014, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron