Corinthian Doors leads Inner Circle Rum Farr 40 Regatta

by Sam Crichton as edited by Sail-World on 2 Nov 2003 The first three races of the Inner Circle Rum Farr 40 Regatta were sailed off Barrenjoey Head near Pittwater yesterday in a westerly breeze of 15 knots that shifted to the south during the day and increased from 10 to 22 knots. Richard Perini’s Corinthian Doors took the regatta point score lead with six points after finishing 3,1,2 today.

Buon Giorno, steered by Brett Ellis, had a great start in the first race, maintaining their position to finish second over the line, while the right side of the course on the last downwind leg of the race paid dividends for Dick Voorderhake’s Rapscallion, giving them the gun.

Corinthian Doors finished third and Kevin Miller’s Valley Tram pulled back three boats on the last upwind leg to finish fourth.

An individual recall for Lang Walker’s Kokomo in the second race did not help their position. The favoured right side of the course was a good choice by Gordon Maguire, tactician on Dennis McDonald’s One Step Ahead, rounding the top mark in second position, while Rapscallion had problems with a spinnaker hoist.

Kevin Miller’s Valley Tram made great gains on the downwind run to round the bottom mark in first place, but it was bad news for Emotional Hooligan - a penalty turn cost them valuable places.

At the finish, only two seconds separated first, second and third places, with Corinthian Doors just holding out Rob Skinner’s Weapon and Buon Giorno.

Weapon charged out with pace at the start of the third race and held the lead right to the finish to claim the race. A 20 degree wind shift after the first mark rounding had the race committee moving the top mark.

At the last mark rounding, both Valley Tram and Buon Giorno did themselves out of out of a top placing after wrapping their spinnakers around their headsails.

Conducted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, the Inner Circle Rum Farr 40 Regatta continues today. with three races planned to complete the series.

Provisional results after day one:

1 Corinthian Doors (Richard Perini - RSYS) 6

2 Weapon (Rob.Skinner - CYCA) 8

3 Rapscallion (Dick Voorderhake - CYCA) 10

4th Buon Giorno (Brett Ellis - RPAYC) 11

5th Valley Tram (Kevin Miller - RQYS) 15

6th One Step Ahead (Dennis.McDonald - CYCA) 19

7th Panther (Steve O'Rourke - CYCA) 21

8th Kokomo (Lang Walker - CYCA) 22

9th Emotional Hooligan (Marcus Blackmore - RPAYC)
23