McNeill holds on – Miles gives chase – Bradford wins Race 7

by Di Pearson on 6 Aug 2004 Pittwater sailor Cameron Miles woke up a happier man this morning after the International Jury, headed by Ronnie McCracken found: ‘The Race Committee have erred in scoring AUS 509 as OCS as there was sufficient doubt from the evidence presented’, in relation to yesterday’s Race 6 of the ACE Etchells World Championship in Mooloolaba.

Miles, a champion sailor representing the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Pittwater in NSW, did all he could today to keep the current series leader, Lake Macquarie sailor Peter McNeill, behind him and managed – Miles finishing in 33rd place, McNeill in 37th. This was the pairs worst result to-date and both used their results as race drops.

McNeill is now just two points ahead of Miles going into the final race tomorrow. The pair has been formidable rivals on a number of occasions, both sailed at Pittwater for a number of years.

Race Officials from Mooloolaba Yacht Club had a hard time today, the five knot breeze would not settle. The gun finally went, but a general recall was signalled; back came the 85-strong fleet and got away at their next start.

In the five knot shifty breeze it was Melbourne’s John Savage first around the first windward mark of the two-lap windward/leeward course, followed by Brisbane sailor David Bull, who was Black Flagged and then came fellow Brisbanite, Mark Bradford and Mornington sailor Glenn Collings.

The order did change, but not all that much. At the finish line it was Bradford leading Savage to take first place today, with young Sydney sailor, Julian Plante coming from sixth place at the first windward mark to take third place, to move into fourth overall, with Mr. America’s Cup, Dennis Conner, in fourth place. This result lifted Conner into third overall.

Bradford, a 33 year old with the North Sails Queensland loft, will rejoin the BMW-Oracle America’s Cup syndicate – his first foray into that hallowed event, once this event is over. His win today has lifted him and his crew into ninth place overall, whilst the second-placed Savage is now 29th.

Speaking of his win today, Bradford said, ‘we were 80th when the race committee called of the race, so we were happy to have a second go!

We did something a bit different, we were mid line and started on port tack without any trouble – the only problem I could see was Mick (crew member Michael O’Brien) appeared to be having a heart attack, so we had to calm him down!

Then we played the shifts up the middle of the first beat and gained on Savvo (John Savage) down the run. He broadcasted his moves which enabled us to sail through him. It’s been an interesting series, a bit like flipping the coin to see who will win each day. Actually, it shows just how good all these sailors are – they all deserve to be here.’

Bradford and his crew of Michael O’Brien and Gary Adshead have sailed the last 20 big Etchells championships together and Bradford has nothing but praise for his crew, who finished second to Britain’s Stuart Childerley at the 2002 Etchells Worlds.

It is always great to get a win at this level of sailing – all the best Etchells sailors are here except for Colin Beashel,’ Bradford commented.

Tomorrow the final race of the Championship will be sailed and forecasters have predicted another light weather day which will suit Dennis Conner down to the ground. Bradford said that Conner had that ‘something special’ when it came to light weather sailing, ‘I don’t know what it is,’ he said, ‘but he just knows what he’s doing, you can’t get past him,’ Bradford added.

John Bertrand, the Melbournian touted as the favourite for the title finished his day in 32nd place to sit in 12th place overall, whilst Mornington sailor, Grant Wharington has dropped from third overall for the series into tenth place after a disastrous worst result of 68th.

There were a number of incidents on the water today, culminating in a busy night for the International Jury.

Racing is expected to get underway at 10.00am tomorrow morning.


Provisional top ten results pending protests:

1. P. McNeill 47

2. C. Miles 49

3. D. Conner 67

4. J. Plante 72

5. G. Collings 72

6. R. Bird 89

7. C. Pratt 94

8. L. Down 97

9. M. Bradford 97

10. G. Wharington 102