#Trim(mainLayout.Name)# Advertising Info Advertising Info

 
News Home Text Only News Powerboat-World MarineBusiness World Video Gallery Animated Knots
Cruising 2013 America's Cup


Sail-World.com : 18ft Skiffs AEG 3-Buoys Challenge - Thrilling end to Race 7
18ft Skiffs AEG 3-Buoys Challenge - Thrilling end to Race 7

'chasing the leaders'    Frank Quealey © /Australian 18 Footers League    Click Here to view large photo

The seventh race of the 18th Skiffs AEG 3-Bouys Challenge came to a thrilling end as Jonathan Whitty’s Panasonic Lumix built enough lead down the stretch to take the victory by just 39 seconds ahead of Asko Appliances in Sunday’s sailing action on Sydney Harbour.

Jonathan Whitty’s Panasonic-sponsored Lumix became the seventh winner from as many races in the series when she won race seven of the 18ft Skiffs AEG 3-Buoys Challenge on Sydney Harbour today.

After a moderate start, Whitty and his Lumix team of James Hozack and Archie Massey moved through the fleet to take the lead on the second lap of the four-lap windward-leeward course.

lumix crew go for the final gybe to win rcae 7 of the challenge -  Frank Quealey_©_-Australian 18 Footers League   Click Here to view large photo

Lumix crossed the finish line 39s ahead of second placed Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones, Ash Rooklyn and Geronimo Harrison), with De’Longhi-Rabbitohs (Simon Nearn, Keegan York and James Smithers) just 7s back in third place.

series leader pure blonde -  Frank Quealey_©_-Australian 18 Footers League   Click Here to view large photo

With the last race of the Challenge to be sailed next Sunday, Pure Blonde (Tom Clout, Rob Bell and Matt Wark) leads the points on 28, followed by Asko Appliances on 33, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) on 34, Mojo Wine (James Dorron) 37, Fisher & Paykel (Andrew Chapman) 40 and Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) 43.

Today’s race was sailed in a moderate SE breeze with the fleet split between the choice of 1 and 2 rigs.

The start played a critical part in the race as three teams were disqualified for OCSs, while three others returned 'just in case'

Biggest loser from the incident was Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) which sailed on in the race oblivious of being disqualified.

The Rag actually led the race for the first two laps before crossing the finish line in seemingly second place.

There was little hard work on the windward legs and the entire race took just 46m58s to complete.

Thurlow Fisher Lawyers took an early lead from Gotta Love It 7, which recovered brilliantly after going back at the start.

lomax financial group on the pace early -  Frank Quealey_©_-Australian 18 Footers League   Click Here to view large photo

Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel took advantage of the red buoy rounding to lead Haier Appliances (Pedro Vozone), Lomax Financial Group (Alexandra South) and Thurlow Fisher Lawyers as spinnakers were set for the run back to the bottom mark.

The Rag continued to lead the fleet over the second lap of the course although Lumix had reduced the margin to just 15s.

Third place was held by The Kitchen Maker, being sailed today by Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Wilmot, who was replacing another Olympic Gold Medalist Malcolm Page.

Asko Appliances, De’Longhi-Rabbitohs, Haier Appliances, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Smeg (Nick Press) and Pure Blonde were in a group which produced some exciting downwind racing.

While Lumix’s win was clear cut, the race behind her saw seven boats finish within the next minute

racing to the bottom mark -  Frank Quealey_©_-Australian 18 Footers League   Click Here to view large photo

The series has achieved the desired result of producing close racing and seven winners from seven races is proof of its success.

An interesting sidelight to the race today was the performance of Brisbane boat Winning Appliances (Shane Smith) which took line honours although only competing by invitation.

Don’t forget ‘Pick the Podium’ again this season with prizes to be won by just making some selections on which teams you think will fill the placings in Sunday’s race. For full details go to http://www.18footerstv.com/18-promo

Race eight (last for the series) of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge will be sailed next Sunday with the Spectator Ferry leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2.15pm.

the old and the new on sydney harbour -  Frank Quealey_©_-Australian 18 Footers League   Click Here to view large photo

spinnakers on the first run -  Frank Quealey_©_-Australian 18 Footers League   Click Here to view large photo


18 Footers website
Flying 18s website


by Frank Quealey

  

Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=104303

10:04 AM Sun 2 Dec 2012GMT


Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.





 
Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty. Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved.

Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.

Please do not contact Sail-World.com as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.

Only if the photographer named on the image is Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com, Marinebusiness-world.com or NZBoating-World.com.
Contact us .
Ph: +61 2 8006 1873 or complete our feedback form    Contact us .
   View our Privacy Policy.    [Go Home]     [  Banner Advertising Specification]    [Bot Archive ]

Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our news feed on their website.
Look_here_to_see_examples