Way & McRae Dominate yesterday

by Simon Reffold on 13 Jun 2004 Ahh, the poetry of match racing....

In what could only be described as ‘ an interesting day’ on the water, the second annual Sydney 38 One Design Match Racing Series was conducted in Pittwater by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

For those of you who are suffering the vagaries of this very mild Sydney Winter you'll understand that wind is at a premium right now.

And whilst the days are sunny and warm (big tick there) they are windless and variable too. In fact the best breeze yesterday was in the late afternoon as the sea breeze filled. It's winter, and the sea breeze filled...

Anyway, 10 Boats are competing in this event and the competition, like the weather, is pretty hot.

There were nine flights scheduled yesterday, but as the breeze was so variable only five got underway. At this stage Easy Tiger (Chris Way, RPAYC) and London Tavern (Bruce McRae, RPAYC) are both leading 5-zip.

In both cases consistent and aggressive pre-start manoeuvres have got them the break and the spectators (of which there were many yesterday!) had a really good display as tacticians Murray Walters on Easy Tiger and Murray Gordon on London Tavern guided their helmsmen to some America's Cup style manoeuvres.

Next on 3-2 is Cinquante (Michael Jones, MHYC) and The Bolter (Rick Welch, RPAYC). Cinquante suffered what can only be described as a middle order collapse, in cricketing terms, as their wheels fell of in the super light conditions, but as the breeze filled again their boat speed got them out of a couple of tight spots.

The Bolter, with losses only to Cinquante and London Tavern are using some conservative tactics, which seem to be working well for them in a range of conditions.

On 2-3 are Wadadli (Gordon Ketelbey, MHYC), Calibre (Geoff Bonus, CYCA), Pitch Black (Sean Kirkjian, CYCA), Uncensored (Chris Lobb, MHYC).

All of these guys have shown some good performances and will undoubtedly improve their positions as the Round Robins continue.

Toughing it out a little, but still competitive are Grant Halliday and The Business (RPAYC) with one win, and young James Corrie skippering Stonybroke (MHYC) with no wins.

At the de-brief after racing yesterday, there was no keeping the smile of Geoff Bonus' face. ‘This is the best racing I have done’ he said.

Geoff is sailing with a bunch of youth academy guys from the CYCA and is learning a lot. ‘I reckon after a season of this you'd get pretty aggressive in [fleet race] starts’

A Crew member sailing on the Bolter, alternately known and Carrot or Dunny Brush - we shall call him Carrot said ‘I've never done match racing before and so we're half a mile from the line doing some form of circle with 10 seconds to go and I'm calling them up to the start.

You forget for a minute and then someone tells you about 'the big picture'.

It is heaps of fun’

Racing today starts again at 0930 and with increased west - nor westerly breezes in is hoped the rest of the Round Robins and Finals can be held.

The winners will be looking forward to Their SLAM clothing for the first three places. SLAM is working closely with the Sydney 38 One Design Association and both are looking forward to announcing and important new partnership shortly.