Ante Razmilovic wins Etchells Race 4 - Jud and Kiwis retain lead

by Al Constable/Rob Kothe on water on 21 Nov 2006 Britain's Ante Razmilovic won the Audi Etchells Worlds Race 4 off Fremantle this afternoon, ahead of American Craig Healy and Australian Mark Bulka.

Ante and his brother Nils have been prominent in the Cowes fleets for many years. This year Ante was sixth in the Etchells Europeans. New England sailor Jud Smith, with Kiwis Andrew Wills and Thomas Saunders in his crew, plus Etchells World Champion Dirk Kneulman (Canada) has further tightened his grip on the 2006 titles stretching his lead over Britain's Andy Beadsworth.

Here is how the race unfolded:

A clear start, Tim Patton (Bermuda BER 1249) was fast away in Cobra IV, followed closely by Lake Macquarie sailor Peter McNeil (AUS 915). Cowes sailor, Robert J Elliot on Esprit (GBR1036) squeezed out on the pin to be well advanced of Swan River Fleet sailor Michael Manford on The Croc.

Back in the second row was Melbourne sailor Mark Bulka on Critical Balance, with Mark Johnson’s Roulette (Sydney AUS 1124) and Pittwater’s Cameron Miles (Fast Harry AUS117). Also fast on the pin was Jake Gunter’s Dr Evil (Melbourne, AUS1244).

Robert J Elliot’s Esprit is three in from the pin end, with Chris Busch’s Happy Ending (Fleet 13, USA 969) fast on the left hand side. Michael Manford’s coming up fast.

Most of the fleet is going left, although a group of ten boats at the top end, have already flicked right off the line.

75 percent of the fleet is still left as they go up the course. The wind speed is 12 – 13 knots and the fleet is a great sight as they head to the mark.

Half way to the first mark and the leaders have gone up the left hand side (southern side) of the course, the middle of the fleet has gone more to the right and breeze is currently running at 14 -15 knots.

Richard Coxon (North Sydney Station AUS 1273) leads down the run to Craig Healy (I Love My Wife USA 946) and the third boat is now very familiar, Jud Smith on Feng Shui (USA 1061). Smith is currently four boats lengths behind Healey, with Mark Bradford one boat length further back, then Ante Razmilovic. Three boat lengths back to Andy Beadsworth then Alastair Gair and Julian Plante.

Coxon led around the windward mark, 10 seconds ahead of Craig Healy, with Jud Smith a further 38 seconds back in third. Then came Mark Bradford just six seconds behind with Ante Razmilovic four seconds astern. Andy Beadsworth was seven seconds behind followed by Alastair Gair, Julian Plante, Murray Smith and Roger Hickman.

Stuart Childerley rounded in 13th, Manford 14th, Rob Brown 15th and John Bertrand 20th.

Coming down the run for the first time, the most left hand boat is Coxon led from Craig Healy. Mark Bradford had come abeam of the second group. There's the first two boats, then a gap to next three boats all abreast, then a gap of about five boat lengths back to the next group of boats. Coxon is losing ground.

At the second mark, Craig Healy led with Ante Razmilovic - they could not be separated. Mark Bradford is a back just one second behind, with Richard Coxon now in fourth, three seconds behind Badford. Julian Plante is fifth, then Jud Smith has dropped back to sixth. Alastair Gair, Andy Beadsworth, Murray Smith and Stuart Childerley moved up three places to tenth. Michael Manford and Roger Hickman follow.

Up the second beat the majority of the fleet went hard left. John Gilmour from Richmond CA, on a boat called Lost in the Fog (USA 1315) stayed right about a kilometre after the balance of the fleet went left. He’s either Lost in the Fog or he could be a real star.

Coming up to the top mark for the second time, the breeze dropped to about 12 knots. Ante Razmilovic (GBR 1333), Craig Healy (USA 946) and Jud Smith (USA 1061) opened up a lead on the rest of the fleet. Smith made up placings since the last mark rounding and seems to be signalling his intention to be on the podium again today.

Ante Razmilovic rounded first, six seconds ahead of Craig Healy. Jud Smith fell back slightly to be 29 seconds behind Healy, with Mark 'Squark' Bradford in fourth. Alastair Gair was a further 21 seconds back, followed by Murray Smith, Julian Plante (seventh), Stuart Childerley (eighth) and Rob Brown (ninth). Richard Coxon, the early leader dropped back to tenth around the mark. John Bertrand has moved up from 17th at the second mark, to be 13th.

As they come down the bottom of the run for the last time, Razmilovic on Swedish Blue maintains a six boat length advantage over Craig Healy, with Jud Smith a further three boat lengths further back. The breeze has dropped to 14 knots at this end of the course.

Rounding the mark for the last time, Ante Razmilovic maintains his lead over Craig Healy, who is 29 seconds back. Jud Smith is now 15 seconds behind Healy, with Mark Bradford making up ground to round in fourth place. Julian Plante was another 22 seconds in arrears. Stuart Childerley, Rob Brown, Andy Beadsworth and Murray Smith completed the top ten as the fleet heads for the finish line.

The breeze is now 20-22 knots, the blue sky now dotted with light white clouds as they near the finish line. The course is 220.

Ante Razmilovic held onto the lead beating Healy over the line, with Alastair Gair third and Mark Bradford fourth. Jud Smith fell back down the last leg and finished fifth.