Mixed day for Hobart IRC aspirants in Savills SORC

by Peter Campbell on 24 Nov 2007 Prominent contenders for IRC handicap honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race had mixed fortunes in today's opening races of the Savills 30th Short Ocean Racing Championship sailed off Sydney Heads.

Graeme Wood's highly rated Transpac 52 Wot Yot won the opening race, sailed in a fresh 20 knot southerly breeze on the Manly Circle but placed fourth in the next two windward/leeward races as the wind eased to 12-15 knots.

Yendys, Geoff Ross' grand prix Reichel/Pugh 55, racing for the first time since winning the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week IRC Racing division improved over the day with a 4-3-2 scoreboard.

The second and third races today over the windward/leeward courses, both went to Quest, Bob Steel's Transpac 52 which has not entered for the Rolex Sydney Hobart. With a second place in race one, Quest leads the pointscore for IRC Racing division 1 at the end of day one.

However, the results were close, Wot Yot winning the first race from Quest by just 8 seconds on corrected time, third going to Leslie Greens' Frers 60 Ginger, also a non-Hobart race contender.

In race two, Quest's winning margin over Wild Joe, Steven David's Reichel/Pugh 60, was 32 seconds, with a further 30 seconds to third placed Wot Yot.

Quest sailed to a more comfortable 1minute 26 seconds win in race three, but only one second separated Yendys and Wild Joe for the minor placings.

After day one, with three races to sail tomorrow, Quest heads IRC Racing division 1 with 4 points from Wot Yot and Yendys each on 9 points,

Another Sydney Hobart entrant to impress was Stephen Ellis' modified Farr 40 Splash Gordon which led the IRC Racing division around the course in each race, winning race one, placing a close second in race two and placing sixth in race three - but only 2 minutes 21 seconds outside the top money.

Splash Gordon, from the CYCA, won race one from Raging Bull (Mark Griffith, RPAYC) and FKP Mean Machine (Chris & Ian Babbidge, MHYC). Race two went to RPAYC member Bill Ebsary with his Beneteau 44.7 Le Billet and Raging Bull.

FKP Mean Machine, a modified Mumm 36, took handicap honours in race three from Le Billet and former MHYC commodore Rob Reynolds' DK43 La Ploma IV.

Fourth place in this race went to the late Nigel Holman's Sydney 39CR Cuckoos Nest with international sailor Katie Spithill on the helm.

After day one of racing Le Billet, which won the Pittwater Coffs Series last January, and FKP Mean Machine head the leader board for IRC Racing division 2 with 8 points each. Splash Gordon is on 9 points.

Further information:
Peter Campbell - 0419 385 028 or email - peter_campbell@bigpond.com
Peter Campbell
Yachting Journalist, Sydney, Australia
Ph: +61 (0) 419 385 028
peter_campbell@bigpond.com