Sail-World.com : Tight at top - Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race
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Tight at top - Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race |
Two days ago it looked like there would be some run-away winners in the 18th annual Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week, but as the wind increases the seascape has changed.
In the IRC Racing fleet Geoff Pearson’s Archambault 35 Arajilla strung together four wins and a second. Today she did not have a great start and as Pearson commented this afternoon, ‘we suffered at the back of the fleet, sailing at times in airs 10 knots less than the big boats and we recorded our second fifth of the series.’
Michael Hiatt’s modified Cookson 50 Living Doll’s worst result is a fourth and going into tomorrow’s final race, she is just two points shy of the series lead. Hiatt and his crew have sailed a consistent series, in a totally reconfigured boat and they could snatch victory tomorrow. Regardless, they are looking good for the Hamilton regatta next week.
Behind them Ray Roberts, the defending Airlie Beach Champion, helmed his Quantum Racing to their first win of the 2007 series today. They can’t win the regatta from here but there is nothing like a win to lift the spirits.
Tactician Stephen McConaghy said ‘a really good course, we were first round the top mark, that was important as we beam reached to the top of North Molle. We held off Wired until Hanna Point and then, as we went on the wind, they sucked our dirty air and they fell back.
‘We had winds of 22 knots south of Hamilton, we enjoyed the extra pressure and we are enjoying the win today.’
In 2004 John Bacon won the IRC Cruising Division with all but one gun and they started this regatta with a string of wins. But the last two days have been less kind.
This Way Up, Western Australian John Moore’s Sydney 36 won Race 5 of the Premier Cruising division from Esprit, Garry Anderson’s Beneteau 47.7. John Bacon’s Hussy was third.
Moore is just two points off the lead and if Bacon stumbles he could miss the chance of a double victory.
The PHS fleet is closing up too. Despite listing themselves in the boat notes as ‘ageing crew’ Terry Balson and company managed to win in Race 6 of PHS Racing. Effarrvescent won on handicap from Mr Bojangles, the Northshore 38 of Pauline Cleaver. John Netherton’s Cadi, The Melbourne Osaka entrant from the Mooloolaba Yacht Club was third.
Overall, local Whitsunday sailor Kevin Fogarty leads on Idle Time by just two points, from Chris Smith’s Mummbo, with fellow locals Chris Nicholl and Terry Archer’s A.F.R.I.C.A. third.
In the Cruising with Spinnaker Division Bobby D, Ross Winterbourne’s Farr from the North Queensland Cruising Yacht Club took the honours in Race 5. Kat, Chris Stockdale’s Beneteau 50 was second, from Paul Verdon’s magnificent Bliss (Azzura Yachts).
Sunrise, Helen and Jeff Shipsey’s Elan 37 continues to lead the overall point score in this division, with Townsville Cruising Yacht Club member Andy Muirhead’s Fahrenheit (Farr 11.6 mod) in second. The well traveled but ‘forever young’ crew (their average age is somewhere in the sixties) of Hans On, the Hanse 370e of Nick Thomas and Col Thomas is third.
In Cruising Non Spinnaker division, Rainbow scored a handicap win for New Zealander Peter Hall and his crew. This is the sixth Airlie beach Race Week for Hall and his mates, who are enjoying the Whitsunday scenery and the Queensland beer.
Second was Delphian, the McIntosh 47 of John Sloan, with John Hudson’s Lady Hawk from the Whitsunday Sailing Club in third.
Overall after five races, Lady Hawk leads from Fish Frenzy (Wayne Banks-Smith) with Delphian third.
The Sport Boats fleet battle continued today with Liquid Tactics, the Egan 6 of Tom Jordan winning Race 7 on handicap, a great result to help celebrate Liquid Tactics’ tenth birthday! Peter Sorensen’s Vivace was second, with Raptor, the Stealth 7 of Mark Buchbach in third.
Today ‘Sorro’ commented ‘Mark Bushbach’s Raptor beat us to the first mark, they just blew us away to windward. They have a smaller rig… my mainsail is too big for windy stuff ….people beating us to windward, we can’t have that - I might switch to a smaller main.’
Another close regatta battle in this class with just two points separating the top placings, but the overall leader is the newly purchased Rock n’ Roll from Townsville (Leon Thomas). It’s What You Do (Brett Whitbread) is second, with Melges Asia Pacific (Heath Walters) third.
Tomorrow is the final day of the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach; the fleet will be sailing Pioneer Bay triangle courses with warning signals from 0940.
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IRC RACING |
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| Series Results [IRC] up to Race 6 (Drops = 1) |
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| Place |
Ties |
Sail No |
Boat Name |
Skipper |
From |
Design |
Sers Score |
Race 6 |
Race 5 |
Race 4 |
Race 3 |
Race 2 |
Race 1 |
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| 1 |
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6669 |
ARAJILLA |
Geoff Pearson |
MHYC |
Archambault A35 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
[5.00] |
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| 2 |
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R50 |
LIVING DOLL |
Michael Hiatt |
rycv |
Farr |
12 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
[4.00] |
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| 3 |
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8899 |
QUANTUM RACING |
Ray Roberts |
CYC |
Cookson 50 |
18 |
1 |
5 |
[8.00] |
4 |
7 |
1 |
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| 4 |
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HKG2245 |
BEAU GESTE |
Karl Kwok |
HKG |
Reichel Pugh |
19 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
[6.00] |
3 |
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| 5 |
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52002 |
QUEST |
Jamie Macphail |
CYCA |
Farr Tp 52 |
20 |
6 |
[11.00Q] |
3 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
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| 6 |
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A33 |
INVINCIBLE |
Harold Clark |
BYC |
Farr 1104 |
24 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
[8.00] |
7 |
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| 7 |
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43218 |
LIMIT |
Alan Brierty |
CYCA |
Corby 49 |
26 |
[7.00] |
6 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
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| 8 |
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9009 |
NIGHT NURSE |
Russell McCart |
rqys |
Farr 40 |
33 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
[8.00] |
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| 9 |
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NZL10303 |
WIRED |
Rob Bassett |
RNZYS |
Bakewell-White |
44 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
[9.00] |
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| 10 |
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NZL8977 |
RAN TAN 2 |
John Meade |
RPNYC |
Elliott 50 |
49 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
[10.00] |
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PHS RACING |
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| Series Results [PHC] up to Race 6 (Drops = 1) |
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| Place |
Ties |
Sail No |
Boat Name |
Skipper |
From |
Design |
Sers Score |
Race 6 |
Race 5 |
Race 4 |
Race 3 |
Race 2 |
Race 1 |
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| 1 |
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588 |
IDLE TIME |
Kevin Fogarty |
WSC |
Spacesailer |
32 |
6 |
10 |
3 |
5 |
[17.00] |
8 |
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| 2 |
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451 |
MUMMBO |
Chris Smith |
Farr |
33 |
10 |
5 |
5 |
[13.00] |
3 |
10 |
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| 3 |
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W42 |
A.F.R.I.C.A. |
Chris/Terry Nicoll/A |
WSC |
Bavaria Cruiser 42 |
34.5 |
[21.00] |
3 |
14.5 |
1 |
11 |
5 |
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| 4 |
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5013 |
AIR APPARENT |
Steve Wright |
NQCYC |
Young 31 |
36 |
7 |
2 |
12 |
[21.00] |
8 |
7 |
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| 5 |
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M242 |
WALLOP |
Peter Hewson |
l.m.y.c |
Sydney 41 |
37 |
17 |
1 |
1 |
[19.00] |
6 |
12 |
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| 6 |
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999 |
TRUE LOVE |
Roger Down |
WSC |
Farr 11.6 |
39 |
14 |
13 |
6 |
[14.00] |
2 |
4 |
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| 7 |
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640 |
WOBBLY BOOT |
Craig Piccinelli |
wsc |
Mod.Young.88 |
39.5 |
11.5 |
[20.00] |
7 |
3 |
16 |
2 |
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| 8 |
1.0S |
B707 |
EFFARRVESCENT |
Terry Balson |
MBTBC |
Farr 11.6 |
41 |
1 |
16 |
[16.00] |
10 |
13 |
1 |
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| 9 |
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5796 |
QLD MARINE SERVICES |
John Galloway |
WSC |
Holland |
41 |
5 |
6 |
[19.00] |
12 |
15 |
3 |
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| 10 |
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Q999 |
ANOTHER FIASCO |
Damian Suckling |
APYC |
Jutson 43 |
45 |
[19.00] |
11 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
13 |
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| 11 |
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MK99 |
MISTERY |
Argus/ Waldmeier |
MYC |
Swarbrick S99 |
46 |
[20.00] |
4 |
4 |
11 |
18 |
9 |
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| 12 |
2.0S |
M4 |
CADI |
John Netherton |
Mooloolaba |
Jones 42 |
47 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
18 |
[21.00] |
17 |
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| 13 |
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W8 |
SANDPIPER |
Colin Pruden |
wsc |
Swarbrick S111 |
47 |
8 |
[19.00] |
9 |
15 |
9 |
6 |
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| 14 |
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MK6 |
THE POACHER |
Foster John |
MYC |
Cavalier 1050 |
51 |
[16.00] |
15 |
11 |
4 |
7 |
14 |
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| 15 |
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8041 |
LORNA ROSE TOO |
Peter Mitchelson |
WSC |
Austral Clubman 8 |
53.5 |
18 |
18 |
14.5 |
2 |
1 |
[18.00] |
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| 16 |
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4556 |
MR BOJANGLES |
Pauline Cleaver |
HYC |
Northshore 38 |
54 |
2 |
8 |
18 |
7 |
19 |
[22.00C] |
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| 17 |
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6607 |
WIRRAJURND |
Andy Kearnan |
CYCA |
Sydney 32 |
57.5 |
11.5 |
9 |
[20.00] |
9 |
12 |
16 |
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| 18 |
4.0S |
NQ19 |
DESTINY |
Rodger Snell |
N.Q.C.Y.C. |
Davidson 34 |
59 |
13 |
14 |
17 |
[17.00] |
4 |
11 |
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| 19 |
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633 |
DEHLER MAGIC |
Greg/Charlie Tobin/P |
WSC |
Dehler 39 |
59 |
9 |
17 |
[21.00] |
8 |
10 |
15 |
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| 20 |
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6222 |
AVANTI |
Bruce McKay |
CSC |
Northshore 369 |
65 |
15 |
12 |
8 |
16 |
14 |
[19.00] |
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| 21 |
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RQ444 |
ASYLUM YEARS |
Nico Sieling |
RQYS |
Lyons 41 |
77 |
4 |
[21.00] |
13 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
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CRUISING YACHTS WITH SPINNAKER |
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| Series Results [PHC] for Division 4 up to Race 5 (Drops = 1) |
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| Place |
Ties |
Sail No |
Boat Name |
Skipper |
From |
Design |
Sers Score |
Race 5 |
Race 4 |
Race 3 |
Race 2 |
Race 1 |
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W677 |
SUNRISE |
Helen & Jeff Shipsey |
WSC / APYC |
Elan 37 |
27 |
11 |
[12.00] |
4 |
7 |
5 |
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| 2 |
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322 |
FAHRENHEIT |
Andy Muirhead |
TCYC |
Farr 11.6 Mod |
28 |
6 |
[13.00] |
8 |
8 |
6 |
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| 3 |
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H370 |
HANS-ON |
Nick / Col Cox / Tho |
MYC |
Hanse 370e |
29 |
7 |
10 |
[12.00] |
9 |
3 |
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| 4 |
4.0S |
SA10 |
STORM2 |
Don Algie |
WSC |
Warwick 66 |
31 |
[15.50] |
4 |
11 |
15 |
1 |
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| 5 |
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5899 |
BOBBY D |
Ross Winterbourne |
NQCYC |
Farr |
31 |
1 |
[20.00] |
5 |
13 |
12 |
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| 6 |
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3610 |
TURTLE TIME |
Jason Randall |
WSC |
Swarbrick Spacesailo |
33.5 |
5 |
2 |
[19.00] |
16.5 |
10 |
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| 7 |
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34 |
TREASURE |
Harold Menelaus |
WSC |
Dehler 34 |
35.5 |
17 |
[18.00] |
7 |
3 |
8.5 |
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| 8 |
1.0S |
50 |
SWORDFISH |
Doug & Clare Barry |
BYC |
Northshore 38 |
36 |
9 |
16 |
10 |
1 |
[20.00] |
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| 9 |
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RQ40 |
MELTEMI |
Jim Shannon |
RQYS |
S&S 34 |
36 |
18 |
[24.00O] |
2 |
12 |
4 |
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| 10 |
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A60 |
ZULU CHIEF |
David Simpson |
myc |
Steinman Pilot House |
37 |
[19.00] |
3 |
18 |
14 |
2 |
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| 11 |
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9111 |
ROPABULL |
Mike Roper |
RMYC/BB |
Beneteau |
38 |
10 |
14 |
3 |
11 |
[14.00] |
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| 12 |
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B88 |
INGENUE |
Rosie Colahan |
RBYC |
Jeanneau So 40 |
38.5 |
13 |
15 |
[15.00] |
2 |
8.5 |
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| 13 |
1.0S |
6215 |
KAT |
Chris Stockdale |
CYCA |
Beneteau 50 |
39 |
2 |
1 |
20 |
[20.00] |
16 |
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| 14 |
3.0S |
BOW2 |
BLISS |
Paul Verdon |
Azzura Yachts |
39 |
3 |
7 |
22 |
[24.00F] |
7 |
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| 15 |
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M42 |
WHITE PEARL |
Gary McCarthy |
MYC |
Simonis Voogd |
39 |
14 |
8 |
[14.00] |
6 |
11 |
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| 16 |
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6523 |
HOLY COW! |
John & Kim Clinton |
CYCA |
Beneteau Oceanis 523 |
40 |
8 |
6 |
13 |
[16.50] |
13 |
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| 17 |
4.0S |
6051 |
THEBIGGER PICTURE |
Penny McConaghy |
Sydney38 |
42 |
4 |
[19.00] |
16 |
4 |
18 |
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| 18 |
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6146 |
KIONI |
Nick Athineos |
CYCA |
Beneteau 47.7 |
42 |
[20.00] |
9 |
6 |
10 |
17 |
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| 19 |
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606 |
MORE INTRIGUE |
Merv Stephensen |
RQYS |
Northshore 38 C |
43 |
12 |
11 |
1 |
19 |
[21.00] |
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| 20 |
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B60 |
GUSTO 1 |
Brian Pattinson |
RBYC |
Open 60 |
51 |
[24.00C] |
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