Hogs Breath PHS Racing Division A Day Two

by Rob Kothe on 13 Aug 2001 ‘A perfect sailing day’ was the summary from Gavin Ward, skipper of the Sydney boat Abracadabra, on the dock after the second days racing

With a savage midrace windshift, turning at least two legs into reaches, there was some serious congestion at the marks. The handicap winners were boats who managed to negotiate the traffic, ducking and weaving to stay out of trouble

Line Honours winner in race two was the brightly coloured Lyons 54 NRMA Insurance, with Gavin Ward’s Tripp 47 Abracadabra next followed closely by Murray Walbran’s Cruise Control.

Cruise Control, won on handicap with Ross Winterbourn’s Bobby Dazzler second and Don Algie’s Storm in third place. (Storm is pictured here)

Cruise Control is a Kiwi Beale 42 boat, which has a solid PHS record, taking 4th place in the 2001 Auckland to Noumea race, after a 6th in the Auckland to Fiji race back in 1998.

The wind increased in strength between the two races and touched 22 knots half way through the second race. However the swings lessened and there was less luck needed to get around the course.

Line honours boat in PHS Racing Division A race three was David Pescud’s NRMA Insurance, with Wayne Woods Bushido II five minutes back with the blue hulled Abracadabra another minute behind.

On handicap Mark Christensen’s Adams 52 footer, Prosail Iceberg, show the form that took her to three times to Hobart. She won from Len Payne Kerinda, last years winner in this division.

Cumulative scores after the three races have Bushido II leading on 13 points from Cruise Control with Abracadabra in third place.

The problems that have occurred in the racing so far, with PHS A&B boats starting in the wrong division should be overcome tomorrow with class flags being issued to each boat. Sorting the confusion that the wrong starts produced has caused much of the delays in producing results so far.

Full results for races two and three have now been posted on Sail-World