Sail-World.com : Code Violation leads J24 Australian Championship
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Code Violation leads J24 Australian Championship |
The J24 Australian Championship commenced today with two races hosted by the Royal Perth Yacht Club on the Swan River with light winds and very warm temperatures for the 11 boat fleet.
Doug McGain from NSW has served notice that he is out to claim his second Australian title after winning in Perth in 2003.
McGain has started the 2008 series well winning both races sailed today in 8-13 knot easterly winds. Starting near the pin end in race one he got away well along with Sean Kirkjian (NSW), the current National champion, sailing Death Star with both boats rounding the windward mark comfortably ahead of the rest of the fleet.
The downwind leg was close between the boats while upwind they split off with one using the left side of the course and the other the right however both converging at the windward mark a similar distance apart to that at the leeward.
McGain was able to hold off challenges from Kirkjian to cross the finish line 31 seconds ahead to claim his first victory of the day.
Race two started in similar conditions with local boat Wetty Gripper sailed by Sean Wallis (WA). Wallis, the 2006 National Champion and current NSW title holder rounded the windward mark first with Duck for Cover, Edward Cox (NSW) second, closely followed by Kirkjian and McGain. At the leeward mark the first four boats rounded with just a couple of boat lengths between each of them.
McGain sailed the second leg well moving through to second place rounding the windward mark a boat length behind Wallis with Kirkjian third and Cox fourth.
The final windward leg saw the lead change inside 50 metres from the windward mark as McGain and Kirkjian found a right hand shift in the light shifty conditions to put them ahead of Wallis at the final mark rounding. Positions were unchanged on the final downwind leg with McGain finishing 14 seconds ahead of Kirkjian with Wallis a further 6 seconds behind.
Racing continues tomorrow with three races scheduled.
Progressive results after two races, ten races scheduled.
1. Code Violation, Doug McGain, NSW: 1,1 : 2pts
2. Death Star, Sean Kirkjian, NSW : 2,2 : 4pts
3. Wetty Gripper, Sean Wallis, WA : 5,3 : 8pts
4. Fun2, Alyn Stevenson, SA : 3,7 : 10pts
5. Duck for Cover, Edward Cox, NSW : 8,4 : 12pts
McGain has started the series well after winning both races sailed today in 8-13 knot easterly winds. Starting near the pin end in race one he got away well along with Sean Kirkjian (NSW) sailing Death Star with both boats rounding the windward mark comfortably ahead of the rest of the fleet.
The downwind leg was close between the boats while upwind they split off with one using the left side of the course and the other the right however both converging at the windward mark a similar distance apart to that at the leeward.
McGain was able to hold off challenges from Kirkjian to cross the finish line 31 seconds ahead to claim his first victory of the day.
Race two started in similar conditions with local boat Wetty Gripper sailed by Sean Wallis (WA) rounding the windward mark first with Duck for Cover, Edward Cox (NSW) second, closely followed by Kirkjian and McGain. At the leeward mark the first four boats rounded with just a couple of boat lengths between each of them.
McGain sailed the second leg well moving through to second place rounding the windward mark a boat length behind Wallis with Kirkjian third and Cox fourth.
The final windward leg saw the lead change inside 50 metres from the windward mark as McGain and Kirkjian found a right hand shift in the light shifty conditions to put them ahead of Wallis at the final mark rounding. Positions were unchanged on the final downwind leg with McGain finishing 14 seconds ahead of Kirkjian with Wallis a further 6 seconds behind.
Racing continues tomorrow with three races scheduled.
Progressive results after two races, ten races scheduled.
1. Code Violation, Doug McGain, NSW : 1,1 : 2pts
2. Death Star, Sean Kirkjian, NSW : 2,2 : 4pts
3. Wetty Gripper, Sean Wallis, WA : 5,3 : 8pts
4. Fun2, Alyn Stevenson, SA : 3,7 : 10pts
5. Duck for Cover, Edward Cox, NSW : 8,4 : 12pts
While only eleven boats are registered to contest the Australian title the standard of competition will be extremely high with current Australian champion Sean Kirkjian keen to retain his title, he will go head to head with local sailor Sean Wallis who recently won the NSW state championship and will be keen to secure a 2nd Australian title after winning in 2006 and was second to Kirkjian in the 2007 championship. Doug McGain from NSW will also be out to claim his second Australian title after winning in Perth in 2003.
For progressive results click here
by Sean Wallis
9:54 PM Tue 8 Jan 2008 GMT
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