Lou Abrahams wins Sydney 38s -Skandia Geelong Week

by Di Pearson on 28 Jan 2007 In winning the Sydney 38 one-design class at Skandia Geelong Week, Lou Abrahams, one of Australia’s most illustrious yachtsmen, has taken home the Morris Finance Trophy.

The Victorian veteran, who equalled the Late John Bennetto’s 44 race record in the 2006 Sydney Hobart Race, won five of the seven races sailed on Corio Bay to beat continuing rival and fellow Melburnian Bruce Taylor (Chutzpah) and Geelong sailor Ian Murray with Cinquante.

Lou, as is usual, sailed an excellent regatta to concurrently finish fourth in the Audi Series for IRC boats. In a funny twist, the 79 year-old, in winning the 34 nautical mile Passage Race, won the trophy named in his honour.

Challenge, representing Sandringham Yacht Club, was seen at the front of the ‘38’ pack in every race of the series. At times, Taylor, from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, seemed to have the better of the Challenge crew, but the only time the Chutzpah crew could claim victory was winning Race 6 of the series.

Cinquante’s crew had their chances too, including keeping Challenge honest at the first top mark in Race 6, but by the time they came around again, Lou was further up the course and Cinquante had gone from second to a worst result of sixth. And although the Sydney 38s are a project of acclaimed sailor Iain Murray, Cinquante’s owner is Ian Murray of Geelong.

Skandia Geelong Week was sailed in remarkably variable conditions; anything from 0 to 5 to 30 knots in land and sea breezes was experienced by the record 448 entries at the annual event.