18 footer Drama – Mark Foy Trophy at Carnac

by Mason Woodworth on 3 Jul 2009
Day 4 of the 18 footers Mark Foy championship, on Quiberon Bay, Carnac France, started after an hours delay under overcast skies and building wind. A small amount of rain was a fair price to pay for 15 knots of westerly wind. The drama that was to unfold today was not on the forecast.

After two tries race 5 was gunned away on a boat favoured line. Good starts were rewarded as a backing wind brought the boats from the left side of the course to the windward mark in front.

Archie Massey, steering Asko led round with a commanding lead, although later to find out he was OCS. Behind him a battle between Grant Rollerson (AUS) on SLAM, Rob Greenhalgh (GBR) on Benny and Howie Hamlin (USA) on Macquarie took shape.

With the wind at 15 knots, the skiffs were off downwind faster than the wind making short work of the course. Jarrod Simpson (GBR) on TMF and John Winning (AUS) on Yandoo gave chase but were unable to close the distance.

The oscillating breeze created many passing lanes and place changes for the middle of the fleet, but at the front it was all about experience. Slam came home in front to secure their fourth victory in five races. Macquarie led home Benny making the top of the championship leader board a clear battle between them.

After waiting for a storm cloud to blow through, race 6 got off to a false start in 16 to 18 knots of breeze. Hoping to get the aggressive fleet under control, the Carnac race committee brought out the dreaded black flag. While the approach to the line was more subdued, down at the pin end a crash was taking place.

Series leader SLAM tacked onto port into Yandoo, who were forced into TMF.

SLAM capsized to windward while Yandoo's pole went through TMF's jib, breaking in the process. SLAM, once upright, with TMF and Yandoo out of action, retired from the race.

Meanwhile, back on the course Mason Woodworth (GBR) on Investec had stepped out to the right side of the course and found a favourable shift with Trevor Barnabas (AUS) on Road Service and John Whitty (AUS), coming in from the left after a great start.

Road Service and Panasonic just led Investec around the top mark with a hard charging Benny and Asko just behind. While sailing in with this pack from the left, there was more drama on Appliances Online where a broken forestay sent their rig crashing down.

Quick action by Rob Greenhalgh avoided a more serious collision while the stationary pirate ship made an obstacle for the boats behind.

Down the run Greenhalgh made his move on Investec jumping up to third just before the leeward gate. The lead boats split with Road Service and Investec going out left and Panasonic, Benny and Asko headed right.

At the top mark, Road service held a clear lead while Benny and Investec moved up to second and third. A spinnaker sheet failure at the hoist saw Panasonic slip further allowing Asko up to fourth. With the breeze clocking well right, the lead four opted for the right side.

Up the final beat, Roadservice tacked left early and with the wind shifting further left, Benny made their final move into the lead. Across the line at 17+ knots it was Rob Greenhalgh stamping his authority on this championship with his second race win. Road service followed with Investec holding off Asko to finish a welcome day of windier conditions.

With two days left to go and with at least three races scheduled, consistent top five finishes leave Rob Greenhalgh in commanding lead with Archie Massey and Howie Hamlin as the closest competitors.

But once nine races are completed the second discard comes into play and Grant Rollerson and his SLAM team currently forced to count an OCS will move right back into the frame.

As today shows, anything can happen and the racing is always exciting! Plenty of action left so stay tuned!

Rgs	Ident	Concurrents	P Ret	P tot	c.1	c.2	c.3	c.4	c.5	c.6	Club / Pays
1	BENNY	GREENHALGH ROBERT JOHNSON DAN HARMER PHIL	11.00	18.00	4 4.00	1 1.00	2 2.00	7 7.00	3 3.00	1 1.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
2	ASKO	WILSDON DAN MC DONALD CAM MASSEY ARCHIE	18.00	49.00	6 6.00	3 3.00	3 3.00	2 2.00	OCS 31.00	4 4.00	AUSTRALIE
3	MACQUARIE	HAMLIN HOWIE LANZINGER FRITZ NOBLE MATT	21.00	30.00	5 5.00	2 2.00	9 9.00	6 6.00	2 2.00	6 6.00	ETATS UNIS D'AM
4	24HRROAD	BARNABAS TREVOR PHILLIPS DANIEL BARNABAS TRENT	25.00	56.00	8 8.00	4 4.00	6 6.00	5 5.00	OCS 31.00	2 2.00	AUSTRALIE
5	SLAM	ROLLERSON GRANT YOUNG JACK COXON MIKE	35.00	66.00	1 1.00	OCS 31.00	1 1.00	1 1.00	1 1.00	DNF 31.00	AUSTRALIE
6	INVESTEC	WOODWORTH MASON MOONLEN JON HAMILTON SIMON	38.00	51.00	7 7.00	11 11.00	13 13.00	8 8.00	9 9.00	3 3.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
7	TMF GROUP	SIMPSON JARROD PARTINCRON ANDREW OVINGTON ADAM	38.00	69.00	16 16.00	8 8.00	5 5.00	4 4.00	5 5.00	DNF 31.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
8	GP COVERS	CLAUSEN FLEMMING EBLER HANSEN CLAUSEN SOREN	39.00	61.00	22 22.00	15 15.00	4 4.00	3 3.00	10 10.00	7 7.00	DANEMARK
9	APPLIANCE	WINNING John Jr AUSTIN Tim EWINGS DAVE	43.00	74.00	2 2.00	7 7.00	12 12.00	14 14.00	8 8.00	DNF 31.00	AUSTRALIE
10	RONSTAN	TORNBULL IAN CONSTABLE PAUL MC KINLAY ALEC	43.00	54.00	11 11.00	9 9.00	7 7.00	11 11.00	7 7.00	9 9.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
11	PINDAR	RICHARDS Andy FAIRLEY Andrew PENFOLD Will	46.00	63.00	9 9.00	5 5.00	8 8.00	17 17.00	11 11.00	13 13.00	SUISSE
12	JF HILLEB	AIREY PHILIP ENGLAND Murray NICK Catley	47.00	68.00	21 21.00	13 13.00	14 14.00	9 9.00	6 6.00	5 5.00	NOUVELLE ZELAND
13	PICA	MEARS JAMIE GILL MATT MEARS STEWART	49.00	64.00	12 12.00	6 6.00	11 11.00	15 15.00	12 12.00	8 8.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
14	YANDOO	WINNING John HAY Andrew HARRIS Peter	55.00	86.00	17 17.00	14 14.00	10 10.00	10 10.00	4 4.00	DNF 31.00	AUSTRALIE
15	PANASONIC	WHITTY Jonathan HIGLETT Dan ANDERSON Tom	58.00	75.00	3 3.00	10 10.00	16 16.00	13 13.00	17 17.00	16 16.00	AUSTRALIE
16	CTSAILBAT	VALLINGS ALEX KITCHEN CHRIS MC CORMACK JOSH	67.00	85.00	14 14.00	12 12.00	15 15.00	18 18.00	14 14.00	12 12.00	NOUVELLE ZELAND
17	GILL WILD	BROWNE Ed TAIT MARK JOHANNES CHRISTOPHER	72.00	93.00	10 10.00	19 19.00	21 21.00	16 16.00	16 16.00	11 11.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
18	MAERSK	CATLEY GRAHAM WHITBURN HAYDEN DEAN RILEY	73.00	92.00	19 19.00	17 17.00	17 17.00	12 12.00	13 13.00	14 14.00	NOUVELLE ZELAND
19	LIBERTY	MIKLOS UJHELYI-GASPAR MATYAS MAJTHENYI ZSOMBOR SZEPFY	83.00	106.00	13 13.00	16 16.00	22 22.00	23 23.00	15 15.00	17 17.00	HONGRIE
20	MAGIC MAR	NORBERT PETER BERNER PHILIPPE LEMMEL FABIAN	94.00	120.00	26 26.00	18 18.00	19 19.00	24 24.00	18 18.00	15 15.00	ALLEMAGNE
21	EURO LINK	RENNER FRIEDRICH LATZI MEIBARER THOMAS EGGERSCLARFER	99.00	126.00	24 24.00	20 20.00	25 25.00	27 27.00	20 20.00	10 10.00	ALLEMAGNE
22	TNI	RUEGER STEPHAN MARTI UELI SCHUERCH RES	105.00	136.00	15 15.00	21 21.00	18 18.00	20 20.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00
23	BANDOL	DUMAINE Olivier VENNAT Robin FATON Serge	107.00	138.00	20 20.00	23 23.00	20 20.00	22 22.00	22 22.00	DNF 31.00	S N BANDOL S N BANDOL S N BANDOL
24	REMEMBER	HAGENMEYER CHRISTOPH HOEFLE HOLGER MANNES HANS PETER	110.00	141.00	25 25.00	22 22.00	23 23.00	21 21.00	19 19.00	DNF 31.00	ALLEMAGNE
25	RAIFFEISE	PFENINGBERGER ANDRAS GERLITS ATTILA CLEIZEL BALAZS	115.00	146.00	18 18.00	24 24.00	24 24.00	25 25.00	24 24.00	DNF 31.00	HONGRIE
26	GRAPEFRUI	CLOTHIER BEN OROSLLAN Gabor CSEREP Csaba	116.00	147.00	23 23.00	25 25.00	26 26.00	19 19.00	23 23.00	DNF 31.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
27	HELLY	CHRISTIE IAIN FERGUSON NIALL ISHERWOOD MATT	131.00	162.00	DNF 31.00	26 26.00	27 27.00	26 26.00	21 21.00	DNF 31.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
28	TANGO	LE MARE RICHARD VIAN TOM TURNER DAVE	149.00	180.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	28 28.00	28 28.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
29	PORT LO1	MELLOU Mathieu CANEVET Pierre PESQUET-DEJEANTY Jean-Baptiste	151.00	182.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	29 29.00	29 29.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	PORH LOEIZ SKIFF PORH LOEIZ SKIFF PORH LOEIZ SKIFF
---	PORT LOEI	MERLIN Cedric GUILLEMETTE Sbastien LE BARON Arthur	155.00	186.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	DNF 31.00	PORH LOEIZ SKIFF PORH LOEIZ SKIFF PORH LOEIZ SKIFF