Wired has grip on F40 class at Sailing South

by Peter Campbell on 4 Jan 2008
Stephen Boyes and his yacht Wired’s grip on the F40 class in the Huon Aquaculture Sailing South Regatta 2008 has been strengthened by a hard-fought win on Hobart’s Derwent River today and the disqualification of rival Andrew Hunn’s Voodoo Chile this evening.

Going into today’s long distance race, Wired and Voodoo Chile were equal on points after each notched up a first and a second yesterday.

But Andrew Hunn’s hopes of a win in this first ever regatta on the Derwent for these one-design boats fell apart today with a fourth place in the long distance race and then having the protest committee disqualify Voodoo Chile from first placed in yesterday’s second race.

The protest committee found Voodoo Chile at fault in a collision on the starting line with Euro Central (Hughie Lewis) in race two. The disqualification moves Wired into first place in race two and Europe Central into third place.

Today’s long down-river race for the F40s was an exceptionally close event with only 1 minute 37 seconds between the first four boats, Wired winning from War Games, Euro Central and Voodoo Chile.

Tactics, crew work and the ability to quickly pick the many wind shifts in the 20 knot north-easterly breeze were the key to success.

Going into tomorrow’s final two windward/leeward races Wired is now on 3 points, comfortably clear of War Games (Wayne Banks-Smith) on 7 points, Euro Central (Hughie Lewis) 10 points, Voodoo Chile (Andrew Hunn) 13 points and POW (Craig Clifford) 15 points.