Forgacs Inner Spring Newcastle Regatta review
by Dave O'Connor on 12 Sep 2012
Farr 40's hitting the start line in Newcastle Craig Wakefield
Last weekend, Newcastle Yacht Club hosted a spectacular regatta where a strong fleet of twenty boats competed in some very exciting and close racing.
Day one saw plenty of action with three tight windward leeward races in the strong S/SW gusting up to 25 knots. Out of the strong fleet of Farr 40’s Enigma showed good form in the tough conditions to come out on top of Martin Hill’s Estate Master with Sam Hill’s Forty always snapping at their heels.
In the IRC Division Richard Arnall’s Anger management with Scott Beeby from East Coast Marine and Sail on board managed to keep things calm and come out with three very consistent second’s, placing them in lead after day one. Only one point behind was Michael Martin’s TP 52 Frantic who after a bad first race turned things around with two wins in the last two windward leewards.
Tom Braidwood’s beautifully restored and well talked about Quest had a cracker of a first race managing to hold off half the Farr 40 fleet in race one, however, with some of the crew feeling a little sick and a couple of gear failures they called it a day early and headed back to the yacht club feeling good about their efforts.
Day two, the sun was out again and the Southerly was still providing the fleet with a nice 12-15 knot breeze.
With a passage race planned the fleet gathered inside Newcastle Harbour where the short start line was set for a reaching harbour start.
Micahael Martin’s Frantic with Nick Beaudoin from North Sails on board got away clean and extended early as the rest of the fleet battled it out for a clean lane.
Matt Fensom’s Farr 40 'Long Time Dead' racing under PHS who also had Dave O’Connor from North Sails on board pulled up their A5 on the tight reach to the IDM rounding mark and raced away from the rest of the fleet winning in their division.
Michael Coxon from North Sails Australia who was sailing with Tony Lobb on his Farr 40 PT73 commented on the regatta: 'It’s great to be up here supporting our agent Scott Beeby from East Coast Marine and Sail and his clients. Newcastle Yacht Club and Forgacs have done an amazing job in hosting the regatta with great close racing and on shore activities. I’m looking forward to next year'
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