International 505 Australian Championships 2013 - First two days

by Nicole Douglass on 18 Jan 2013 The 55th International 505 Australian Nationals were off to a fast start with Michael Quirk and Darryl Roos leading the way after four races on the beautiful waters of Port Vincent in South Australia.

The first four races were sailed in a southerly breeze of five to 15 knots with the wind shifting up 30 degrees. Racing has been extremely close with no room for error.

In the first race of the series Michael Quirk and Darryl Roos started in similar fashion to the lead up invitation race taking a commanding one minute lead after the first lap. By the end of the second work, with the rest of the fleet battling each other for the minor placings they had extended their lead to three minutes. From there Quirk and Roos went on to win in convincing fashion. Second place went to Sandy Higgins and Paul Marsh and third place to Mal Higgins and Luke Payne.

For race two the southerly breeze had increased to 12 to 15 knots. The racing was very close throughout, with the lead changing several times between Michael Baggage and James McAllister and Michael Quirk and Daryl Roos, with Quirk and Roos eventually getting the upper hand and going on to win. Babbage and McAllister held onto second and Mal Higgins and Luke Payne crossed the line with a consistent third.

For the second day, race three was sailed in around eight to 12 knots and the breeze again from the south. The racing was very close with the lead changing several times between four boats at the top. Eventually the Quirk and Roos combination took their third straight win for the series, followed by Higgins and Payne, and then the Queensland combination of Kevin Cameron and Sam Heritage.

For race four, the wind started in what looked like a building sea breeze but ended up fading as the race started in around eight to 10 knots. At the first windward mark a pack of about seven boats rounded together. By the bottom, Mal Higgins, still sailing well after his Sharpie National win only two weeks ago, took the lead and went on to take the win. Second place went to Sandy Higgins and Paul Marsh and third place went to Quirk and Roos.

After four races and one drop the top five are:-

1 - 9036 Strife - Michael Quirk/Daryl Roos
2 – 8890 Groove Train - Malcolm Higgins/Luke Payne
3 – 8946 Hawaii Five O - Sandy Higgins/Paul Marsh
4 – Alvis Rides Again - Michael Baggage/Kames McAllister
5 – Alarm Innovations - Kevin Cameron/ Sam International 505 Australian Nationals