Black Betty sets the pace at Geographe Bay

by Bernie Kaaks on 17 Feb 2013 Gary McNally’s GP42 Black Betty set the early running in the first two windward and return races at the Redink Homes Geographe Bay Race Week today, winning line honours and IRC in both. Terry Posma sailed an excellent first race in his Runnalls 38 to hold off a fast finishing General Lee, to claim a hard fought second place.

Minds Eye was equally dominant in the IRC White fleet, winning line honours and IRC in both. Last year’s winner Mulberry has left itself with work to do, with a fifth in the first race, backed up with a second in race 2, while the reliable S&S34 Blondie, the Bakewell White 36 X Factor and Minds Eye’s sister ship Dynamic have all been in the mix.

Weather on the Bay today was near to perfect, with a light westerly breeze holding throughout, but offering enough shifts to keep everyone on their toes.

A bingle on the start line during the Premier Cruising start sequence will ensure that the protest committee has work to do tonight, but in the Under 10 metre fleet, Stress Management, Sky Rider and D’Vine shared the placings after Alan Thomas set the pace in his Bakewell White 8, The Fox. D’Vine’s arch rival Once Were Desirables (sailed by their wives and partners) was well back in ninth place, suggesting there might be some interesting debate in their respective households when they get home this evening.

Graeme Monkhouse’s J122 Lithium was best of the Premier Cruising Blue Fleet ahead of David Clifton’s Bunbury based Eftel, while Gordon Dunbar’s Spritzig 2 took handicap honours in the Jib and Main fleet ahead of Fred Talbot’s Ocean Cowboy, which also claimed line honours.

Tomorrow’s program, with a very early start, sees all divisions except the Under 10 metre cruising fleet on long passage courses.