Super maxis flounder in light winds

by Peter Campbell on 18 Dec 2004 Former America’s Cup skipper Iain Murray this morning almost clinched an upset double in race five of the Rolex Trophy at the helm of Steven David’s Reichel/Pugh 60, Targé,


Sailing in only 4-5 knots of sea breeze, Targé led the fleet for most of the shortened windward/leeward course and won her second race of the series on corrected time.


The Reichel/Pugh 60 which was champion yacht of the 2003 Admiral’s Cup is now within just seven points of the overall leader in the Rolex Trophy rating series, Wild Oats, the new Reichel/Pugh 66 skippered by Targé’s former owner, Bob Oatley.


New Zealand 98-footer Konica Minolta, skippered by Stewart Thwaites, only overtook Targé on the downwind spinnaker run to the finish of the shortened course when her much longer waterline began to take effect.


Targé led from the start to the first windward mark and was 10 seconds ahead of the big Kiwi boat, which failed to lay the mark and had to make another tack. Both were well clear of Skandia, which, after a poor start, went out to sea in search of wind and found none.


Konica Minolta and Targé were followed across the line by Grant Wharington’s 98-footer Skandia, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats and Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban, which had an excellent race.


Provisional IRC results placed Targé first on corrected time from Leslie Green’s Swan 45 Ginger and Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban, followed by the two Farr 40 One Design yachts, Lang Walker’s Kokomo and American Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad. The two Farr 40s are contesting the Rolex Trophy as part of their familiarisation of the waters off Sydney Heads where the CYCA will contest the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds next March.


After five races, Wild Oats is on 269 points followed by Targé on 262, Konica Minolta 251, Yendys 245 and Aera 236.


Aera, the top-rated UK boat, skippered by Jez Fanstone, had her worse race of the series placing 21st on corrected time while other prominent Rolex Sydney Hobart contenders to fare badly in the light winds included Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin (17th) and Howard de Torres’ Nips N Tux (Howard de Torres), which placed 12th.