Skies clear and breeze kicks in for 2016 Land Rover Winter Series

by Di Pearson on 2 May 2016 2016 Land Rover Winter Series - It looked likely that rain and gloom would be part and parcel of Sunday’s opening pointscore race in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s (CYCA) Land Rover Winter Series, but it was to the contrary when light rain ceased and cloudy skies parted, giving way to a glorious sunny day and ideal racing conditions.

A fleet of 114 boats were on the Sydney Harbour start line, with David Pescud’s Sailors With DisAbilities starting the season well, taking the gun in Division A1, from Steven Proud’s Kernan 44, Swish, and The Goat, a Rogers 46 owned by Sebastian Bohm and Bruce Foye.

“I woke up this morning and it was grey and raining, but by the time we got back to Sydney and down to the club, the sun was out and it was a beautiful day – and we won the first race of the season – does it get any better,” Pescud questioned.

“We did the CYCA twilights before this series. They are both fantastic opportunities for near-novices and for our volunteers. They can learn in a really good environment and it’s really special to give back to our volunteers in this way.

“We had a lovely breeze; the Harbour in all its glory. Where else would you be, said Pescud adding, 'I hope the win doesn’t affect our handicap.”

Dentist and world traveller, Basil Diethelm won Division C with Sumatra, his well-appointed Swan 48 Cruiser. Possessing such luxuries as a water maker and coffee machine, Sumatra requires fairly lusty winds to perform well - and she got just that.

“What an excellent day,” Diethelm commented. “The boat’s heavy, so the 15 plus knots from the north and north/west suited her down to the ground. It was like sailing in the Caribbean.”

A 55-year member of the CYCA, Diethelm said this was his first foray into the Land Rover Winter Series since returning to Australia from cruising the world two years ago.

“All the people aboard have raced with me at Antigua Week and we loved the day. I’ve sailed around the world and raced in various places, but the CYC has the best program in the world,” ended Diethelm, who has crossed the Atlantic 13 times.

Sumatra got the better of the Salona 45, Zora (Pacific Sailing School) and Rum Jungle a Swarbrick 40 campaigned by the ‘Lost Boys’ syndicate.

Peter Messenger steered John Messenger’s Utopia to a scratch win in the Sydney 38 Division, finishing third overall in the handicap stakes, but just seconds separated the top three, including winner TSA Management (Tony Levett) and second placed The Goat (Mitchell Gordon). In fact, there was two seconds only between the top two.

Peter Messenger commented: “It’s great having the Sydney 38 division back. It means it all comes down to crew work and that makes it exciting racing. Next (Richard Holstein) was looking good, but broke its steering on the first spinnaker run and retired.

“From there, it was neck-and-neck with TSA Management and The Goat and then we slowly inched our way away from them in wind that was in and out all day.

“My 15-month old godson, Hugh Sabey, was aboard. He only cried after we crossed the finish line – I think he wanted to keep sailing,” Messenger finished, laughing.

Karen Hawkett and Brett Pearce sailed their Hanse 350, La Niche, to victory over Paul O’Connell’s Katinka and Bill Mirrow’s Privateer in Division K. Hawkett and Pearce scored the daily double when they were drawn to receive a lift stand launch and two free lay days, kindly donated by the Noakes Group.

“This is the first race on our new boat,” Hawkett said. Phil Thompson (a former CYCA Sailing Manager) joined us for the race. He hasn’t been too well, but he was firing on all fours. He reckons he’s lost his touch, but he hasn’t - he was in great form.

“Phil loved every minute of the race and we loved having him along,” said Hawkett of Thompson, who along with her husband and co-owner Brett Pearce sailed with Division A1 winner, David Pescud, to a record-breaking Around Australia Race in 2003.

There are protests in Divisions D and J2, but currently Division winners stand at: Division A2 – St Jude (Noel Cornish); Nocturne (Gerard Kesby); Division D – Sweet Chariot (Ralph Pickering); Division E – Selkie (Anthony Booth); Division F – Quattro (Jason Daisley/James Garnsey); Division G – Sea Rug Hoo Ha (Peter Howes); Division J1 – Viva (Ken Hudson); Division J2 – Lu Lu Belle (Peter Lewis); Sydney 38 – TSA Management (Tony Levett).

Race two of the Land Rover Winter Series will be held next Sunday starting from 11.25am, when the Sydney 38 fleet starts, followed by the bulk of the fleet from 11.30am.

Weekly prizes will be awarded to first, second and third placegetters in each division and include exclusive CYCA Land Rover Winter Series merchandise.

Results:

DivA1 PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	6953	SAILORSWDISABILITIES	David Pescud	27	01:51:05	13:48:05	1.0
2	226	SWISH	Steven Proud	26	01:52:35	13:48:35	2.0
3	421	THE GOAT	Sebastian Bohm Bruce	26	01:52:50	13:48:50	3.0
4	8181	ESPRESSO FORTE	Laurence Freedman	22	01:57:03	13:49:03	4.0
5	1014	UBS WILD THING	Geoff Lavis	27	01:53:38	13:50:38	5.0
6	52152	KOA	A Kearnan / P Wrigle	38	01:42:48	13:50:48	6.0
7	AUS9999	ASSASSIN	Robin Crawford	26	01:58:39	13:54:39	7.0
8	6377	TRITON	Michael Cranitch	38	01:47:24	13:55:24	8.0
9	ESP6100	DUENDE	Damien Parkes	25	02:01:07	13:56:07	9.0
10	AUS5299	VICTOIRE	Darryl Hodgkinson	43	01:45:01	13:58:01	10.0
DNC	6952	CELESTIAL	Sam Haynes	43			13.0
DNC	10000	BRINDABELLA	Jim Cooney	41			13.0

DivA2 PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	6686	ST JUDE	Noel Cornish	21	01:58:02	13:49:02	1.0
2	9327	KOMODO	Jason King	23	02:01:24	13:54:24	2.0
3	6837	MINERVA	Tim Cox	21	02:04:12	13:55:12	3.0
4	6111	NEVER A DULL MOMENT	Col & Denise Wilson	26	02:00:08	13:56:08	4.0
5	AUS615	ESTATE MASTER	Martin & Lisa Hill	29	01:58:03	13:57:03	5.0
6	7075	QUEST	Bob Steel	32	02:00:15	14:02:15	6.0
7	AUS160	CRUSADER	Jonathan Green	24	02:08:20	14:02:20	7.0
8	888	HUNTRESS	Philip Grove	23	02:11:42	14:04:42	8.0
9	007	EDAKE	Jeff Carter	29	02:06:06	14:05:06		Yes
10	99991	KIRRIBILLI	Adrian Abbott	27	02:10:06	14:07:06	9.0
11	101010	PLAYSTATION 4	Dean Harrigan	34	02:04:04	14:08:04	10.0
12	SM6518	ADVENTURESAFETY JEM	Jeff Dusting	26	02:15:39	14:11:39	11.0
DNC	8008	OCC.COARSELANGUAGE 2	Warwick Sherman	23			15.0
DNC	00400	VENTO	Walter Lewin	31			15.0
DNC	65007	ELENA NOVA	Craig Neil	33			15.0

DivB PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	5271	NOCTURNE	Gerard Kesby	12	01:57:50	13:39:50	1.0
2	415	ARCH RIVAL	Steve Connors	13	01:59:49	13:42:49	2.0
3	6808	FLYING CLOUD	Howard Piggott	15	01:58:28	13:43:28	3.0
4	040	OUTLAW	Alan & Tom Quick	14	02:01:41	13:45:41	4.0
5	33345	BLACK SHEEP	Derek Sheppard	17	01:59:03	13:46:03	5.0
6	8975	LAST TANGO	Phillip King	14	02:04:29	13:48:29	6.0
7	6774	JACKPOT	Adrian Van Bellen	12	02:06:55	13:48:55	7.0
8	248	WAX LYRICAL	Les Goodridge	14	02:05:00	13:49:00	8.0
9	6396	SPORTS BAR	Nev & Jo Blair	15	02:06:50	13:51:50	9.0
10	A140	ARIEL	R Forster P Damp	16	02:06:04	13:52:04	10.0
11	99	PAZAZZ	Rob Drury	19	02:04:12	13:53:12	11.0
12	8412	CYRENE 3	Michael Selby	14	02:11:10	13:55:10	12.0
DNC	6841	PAPILLON	Phil Molony	13			15.0
RET	8402	MORE WITCHCRAFT	John Cameron	13			14.0

DivC PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	53444	SUMATRA	Basil Diethelm	19	02:07:09	13:56:09	1.0
2	8975A	ZORA	Pacificsailing Schoo	4	02:22:47	13:56:47	2.0
3	RQ1123	RUM JUNGLE	Lost Boys Synd	20	02:09:01	13:59:01	3.0
4	5930	REVE	Kevin Whelan	16	02:18:04	14:04:04	4.0
5	6870	BENNIE AND THE JETS	John Griffin	23	02:11:35	14:04:35	5.0
6	2001	QUETZALCOATL	Bruce/Lee Warn Er/Sw	24	02:10:45	14:04:45	6.0
7	8824	CHANCELLOR	Edward Tooher	17	02:19:15	14:06:15	7.0
8	SYD181	ONLINE	Stephen Trevillion	23	02:14:51	14:07:51	8.0
9	6755	AUSREO	Ian Creak	24	02:16:23	14:10:23		Yes
DNC	6360	INTEGRITY	Andrew Stoeckel	14			10.0

DivD PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	6166	SWEET CHARIOT	Ralph Pickering	5	01:50:43	13:25:43		Yes
2	6358	IRUKANDJI	P Stubbs/Snash	11	01:46:37	13:27:37	1.0
3	6232	MORTGAGECHOICE RUMBA	R Carr S Cook & K Bu	13	01:49:31	13:32:31	2.0
4	KA400	SCARLETT O'HARA	Robert Skol	16	01:47:54	13:33:54	3.0
5	8035	ONE MORE-NO MORE	Ian Guanaria	17	01:49:25	13:36:25	4.0
6	4970	AKELA	Alan Mather	15	01:51:34	13:36:34	5.0
7	6609	AMANTE	Dennis Cooper	20	01:47:44	13:37:44	6.0
8	5273	SOUNDTRACK	John Amos	13	01:54:56	13:37:56	7.0
9	6683	CROSSHAVEN	S Rahilly / J Pelly	20	01:48:05	13:38:05	8.0
10	700	SOMMERBREEZE	Hans Sommer	15	01:55:32	13:40:32	9.0
11	5935	ALPHA CARINAE	Damian Barker	14	01:57:26	13:41:26	10.0
12	5923	TWILIGHT ZONE	Peter Fallon	11	02:01:53	13:42:53	11.0
DNC	5826	SALTSHAKER	Peter Franki	22			17.0
DNC	5845	BOTANY ACCESS COCOMO	Justin Brownbill	16			17.0
RET	6511	CLOUD IX	Andrew Waugh / Jon C	13			15.0
RET	8063	EYE APPEAL	J Markos/ M Delaney	14			15.0
RET	35000	NEXT LIGHT	Derek Collins	12			15.0

DivE PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	9201	SELKIE	Anthony Booth	0	01:54:15	13:24:15	1.0
2	6928	MENAGE A TROIS	Karl Matiszik	0	01:56:00	13:26:00	2.0
3	AUS007	JAMES	Tim Ryan	6	01:50:39	13:26:39	3.0
4	8339	LUNA SEA	James Cameron	7	01:51:46	13:28:46	4.0
5	4377	CLEWLESS?	Lachlan/Guy Irwin	9	01:50:41	13:29:41	5.0
6	AUS1337	ITCHY	Jamie Watson	9	01:53:49	13:32:49	6.0
7	AUS814	BANDIT / ACCRU	W Rooklyn K Nixon	20	01:44:53	13:34:53	7.0
8	6544	JET	Justin Graham	22	01:43:04	13:35:04	8.0
9	9997	SKEETER	Sandor Tornai	23	01:48:04	13:41:04	9.0
10	6890	ADELA	David Lamond	18	01:54:47	13:42:47	10.0
DNC	8383	KRAKATOA	Don Young	20			13.0
DNC	AUS6133	FOREIGN AFFAIR	Matt Wilkinson	18			13.0

DivF PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	F8	QUATTRO	Daisley/Garnse Y/Mon	1	01:42:56	13:13:56	1.0
2	YC868	PEACH TEATS-VELOCITY	Brian Carrick	3	01:49:57	13:22:57	2.0
3	6990	GREAT WHITE	Bob Penty	9	01:45:14	13:24:14	3.0
4	9900	SUPERFINE	George Waldthausen	12	01:43:25	13:25:25	4.0
5	8550	PANACEA	Reece Theedam	10	01:47:38	13:27:38	5.0
6	SM74	PERFECT MATCH	Michael Gentry	14	01:45:57	13:29:57	6.0
7	4896	L'EAU CO.	Grant Pollock	14	01:46:01	13:30:01	7.0
8	B347	SPEEDWELL	Colin Geeves	14	01:47:00	13:31:00	8.0
9	7045	DEFIANT	Billingham / McGee	17	01:44:38	13:31:38	9.0
10	6626	DOUBLE TROUBLE	Steve Wyatt	16	01:47:11	13:33:11	10.0
11	3724	SALONA	Pacificsailing Schoo	13	01:55:28	13:38:28	11.0
DNC	8484	WINDFLYT	Douglas Sturrock	13			13.0

DivG PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	2125	SEA RUG HOO HA	Peter Howes	0	02:06:06	13:36:06	1.0
2	2153	FICTION	Michael Blaxell	17	01:52:51	13:39:51	2.0
3	AUS4439	JAGGED EDGE	Gary Mason	14	01:58:36	13:42:36	3.0
DNC	404	HORNBLOWER	Steve Sweeney	3			6.0
DNC	KA17	WALLOP	B Collis S Wall	30			6.0

DivJ1 PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	129	VIVA	Ken Hudson	12	01:35:04	13:17:04	1.0
2	6223	TRIM	Shaaron Walsh	20	01:32:19	13:22:19	2.0
3	6226	SANTE'	Rob &Sue Segaert	21	01:33:36	13:24:36	3.0
4	7046	INKONKONI	Arthur Lane	18	01:37:04	13:25:04	4.0
5	7100	M	Steve Hatch	26	01:32:09	13:28:09	5.0
6	1961	IN CAHOOTS	Pat & Roberta Easton	26	01:34:12	13:30:12	6.0
7	6563	L'ATTITUDE	R Hunt/J Short /M Ba	24	01:36:32	13:30:32	7.0
DNC	6652	BALTIC LADY	Niel Burling	23			14.0
DNC	6797	HOLY COW!	John & Kim Clinton	16			14.0
DNC	8455	EUROPA	David Mason	24			14.0
RET	6501	LAHARA II	Glenn Crane	23			11.0
RET	6937	HANNI	Michael Hesse	24			11.0
RET	R447	LIBERTINE	Benjamin Morgan	27			11.0

DivJ2 PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	6593	LU LU BELLE	Peter Lewis	2	01:43:00	13:15:00	1.0
2	508	STORMY PETREL	Kevin O'Shea	8	01:38:58	13:16:58	2.0
3	6739	HUBCAP2	Herman Heiligers	8	01:39:37	13:17:37	3.0
4	9933	MONKEY BUSINESS	Paul Glynn	9	01:44:04	13:23:04	4.0
5	7080	MINNOW	Les Pongrass	12	01:41:29	13:23:29	5.0
6	69200	ARCH NEMESIS	Dale Ghabrial Hare T	14	01:39:49	13:23:49	6.0
7	7006	LORELEI	Matthew Farr	11	01:54:43	13:35:43	7.0
DNC	193	SYONARA	Greg Maughan	2			10.0
DNC	1008	STAR FERRY	John Conroy	11			10.0

DivK PHSTCF results Start : 11:30

Place	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	OffSet	Elapsd	Fin Tim	Score	Vis
1	7121	LA NICHE	Brett Pearce Karen H	12	01:30:40	13:12:40	1.0
2	3031	KATINKA	Paul Oconnell	3	01:43:37	13:16:37	2.0
3	4582	PRIVATEER	Bill Mirow	22	01:31:31	13:23:31	3.0
4	6809	APPLEJACK	Derek McDonnell	14	01:42:31	13:26:31	4.0
5	5719	DOUBLE DUTCH	Phil Tanner	27	01:32:30	13:29:30	5.0
6	7096	SOLUTION	Peppernell Lee Conwa	24	01:38:44	13:32:44	6.0
7	3942	ASTRAEA	Anne Lawson-Jones	18	02:00:21	13:48:21	7.0
DNC	3976	GUSTO	Phillip Denison	19			10.0
RET	5950	SHORETHING	James Butler	24			9.0