Cydon wins Sydney 38 title at Hamilton Island, in a family affair

by Rob Kothe on 28 Aug 2004 Cydon skipper Leon Christianakis and his top class racing crew including Jamie and Bobby Wilmot yesterday won their fifth regatta in a row in the intensely competitive Sydney 38 Class Championship at the 2004 Hahn Premium Race Week regatta on Hamilton Island.

Christianakis with a background in Farr 40 and Mumm 30 racing in Europe, had first up success when he joined the Sydney 38 One Design circuit in February 2004.

Cydon won the Rex Regatta in February then dominated the largest Sydney 38 fleet ever assembled for a runaway win in the prestigious Joico regatta off Pittwater, then went on to provide it was no fluke in the Anzac Weekend Two up Regatta.

Last week the same team won the Pan Pacific Championship at the 15th Hogs Breath Race Week at Airlie Beach.

As always clear air is the most valuable component of a winning race in One Design and race after race Jamie Wilmot positions Cydon perfectly for maximum boat speed.

In the Hahn Premium series, Cydon with four wins, a fourth and two seconds and a third, going into today’s race Cydon could not be beaten and their second placed sealed a fine regatta win.

The program for Cydon over the next few months is the NSW State titles in early October, then the FPDSavills regatta at end of November, then the Rolex Regatta, before the Sydney 38 Nationals at Skandia Geelong Week.

It’s been a real family affair on Cydon, Leon’s wife Fiona is part of the regular crew as is her father Bill. Also on crew is Olympic sailor, Bobby Wilmot and his wife Susan, while Jamie's son Jeremy is on bow.

Leon summed up, ‘in January I decided the Sydney 38 was a great combination for racing and cruising - and its all of that, the families are having a great time.’

Today, Lou Abraham’s Another Challenge took line honours and from that, second place in the series overall. ‘Thank goodness we won at least one race. It was good to beat Cydon just once. They have definitely deserved this regatta win. It’s been good hard racing at Hamilton Island. The best yet.’


Race 10 - Lindeman Is race - Saturday 28/8

Boat Name Skipper El.Time Cor.Time Place Points

ANOTHER CHALLENGE Lou Abrahams 3:11:03 3:11:03 1 100
CYDON Leon Christianakis 3:12:03 3:12:03 2 98
CALIBRE Geoff Bonus 3:12:09 3:12:09 3 97
ASYLUM Wayne Kirkpatrick 3:13:22 3:13:22 4 96
ALTIRIS EASY TIGER G Masters/H Walters 3:13:36 3:13:36 5 95
TEAM LEXUS James Mayo 3:13:39 3:13:39 6 94
WADIDLI Gordon Ketelby 3:14:15 3:14:15 7 93
SWISH Steven Proud 3:14:27 3:14:27 8 92
ALEX Jock MacAdie 3:16:52 3:16:52 9 91


Complete Overall Regatta Results After Race 10

Boat Name Skipper Points Place
CYDON Leon Christianakis 887 1
ANOTHER CHALLENGE Lou Abrahams 883 2
CALIBRE Geoff Bonus 867 3
ASYLUM Wayne Kirkpatrick 867 4
ALTIRIS EASY TIGER G Masters/H Walters 859 5
TEAM LEXUS James Mayo 857 6
ALEX Jock MacAdie 854 7
SWISH Steven Proud 828 8
WADIDLI Gordon Ketelbey 827 9