18ft Skiffs - Asko Appliances wins AEG 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 6

by Frank Quealey on 26 Nov 2012 In Race 6 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge, the Asko Appliances team of Marcus Ashley-Jones, Ash Rooklyn and Geronimo Harrison handled the light ENE breeze to perfection to score an easy all-the-way victory on Sydney Harbour today.

Always near the lead from the start, Asko Appliances established a big lead at the first windward mark and totally dominated throughout the four-lap course to win by 3m8s.

In an extremely tight finish for second place, James Dorron’s Mojo Wine defeated Simon Nearn’s De’Longhi-Rabbitohs by just nine seconds.

Series Leader Pure Blonde (Tom Clout) was fourth, followed by Fisher & Paykel (Andrew Chapman) and Yandoo (John Winning).

With just two races left in the Challenge series, and most boats already carrying a maximum points discard, Pure Blonde heads the points table on 23 points.

Mojo Wine’s consistency has the team in second place overall on 25 with Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) and Fisher & Paykel equal third on 27.

Today’s winner, Asko Appliances is fifth on 31 and backmarker Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin) sixth on 35.

After the strong winds which battered the fleet last Sunday, today’s race was sailed in a breeze which was constantly light from the ENE.

With Asko Appliances dominating the race, most interest centred on the battle behind with positions changing from the three buoys handicapping.

Former Australian champion James Dorron continues to improve each week in Mojo Wine and was always in the bunch chasing the leader.

The Kitchen Maker (James Francis), De’Longhi-Rabbitohs, Pure Blonde, Rabbitohs-Kenwood (Brett Van Munster), Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) and Thurlow Fisher Lawyers were also prominent at various stages.

It was also encouraging for the rookie ‘Skiff Chicks’ team on Lomax Financial Group, which finished 13th after carrying their smaller number two rig in the light conditions.

Alexandra South, Saskia Tidey and Lizzi Rountree had the distinction of beating the Gotta Love It 7 team home.

Race 7 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge will be sailed next Sunday with the Spectator Ferry leaving Double Bay Public Wharf at 2.15pm.

Finish Placings	Recall #	Boat Name	Finish Time	Elapsed Time	Handicap	Corrected Time	Scratch Position
1	3	Asko Appliances	16:11:21	1:14:21	8	1:14:21	1
2	11	Mojo Wine	16:14:29	1:17:29	6	1:17:29	2
3	4	De’longhi-Rabbitohs	16:14:38	1:17:38	10	1:17:38	3
4	9	Pure Blonde	16:16:20	1:19:20	4	1:19:20	4
5	10	Fisher & Paykel	16:16:49	1:19:49	10	1:19:49	5
6	2	Yandoo	16:17:54	1:20:54	4	1:20:54	6
7	13	Rabbitohs-Kenwood	16:18:00	1:21:00	5	1:21:00	7
8	6	Rag & Famish Hotel-Coopers	16:18:02	1:21:02	5	1:21:02	8
9	1	Thurlow Fisher Lawyers	16:18:18	1:21:18	3	1:21:18	9
10	8	Smeg	16:18:26	1:21:26	4	1:21:26	10
11	12	Lumix	16:20:37	1:23:37	6	1:23:37	11
12	14	The Kitchen Maker	16:20:54	1:23:54	6	1:23:54	12
13	18	Lomax Financial Group	16:24:52	1:27:52	10	1:27:52	13
14	7	Gotta Love It 7	16:25:35	1:28:35	0	1:28:35	14
15	17	Haier Appliances	16:28:01	1:31:01	10	1:31:01	15
16	19	Team Southern Cross	16:29:46	1:32:46	10	1:32:46	16
17	5	Appliancesonline.Com.Au	16:29:55	1:32:55	0	1:32:55	17

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