Fifteen boats now back at the RPAYC

by Damian Devine on 3 Jan 2008 With 6pm sked almost complete, the affectionately named 2008 Pittwater to Pittwater ocean race now has fifteen boats over the line with many making their way down Pittwater to the RPAYC dock for a well earned shower and customary drink or two with crew and family.

It was a spectacle this afternoon along Sydney's Northern beaches as the next tier of the fleet reached their way back to Pittwater in a 10-12 knot Sou' Easter. Many reports had spectators viewing the fleet as they sailed up past the majestic headlands of the Northern beaches.

A further 10 yachts have now crossed the finishing line inside Pittwater, packed up their sails and now making their way to the bar. The finishers since the report at 4:30pm in finish time order include the following:

6. Impi
7. Le Billet
8. Brannie Three
9. Wasabi
10. Sea Hawk
11. Mahligai
12. The Business
13. Risk
14. Love Byte
15. Mojo

In terms of IRC handicap provisional results, it's looking more like a double line honours/ handicap victory for Wild Joe with the Beneteau First 44.7 Le Billet moving in second spot, approximately 1hr 46minutes behind the Joe on corrected time, after 22 Coffs veteran Bill Ebsary steered the 10 tonne Beneteau over the finishing line at 4:29pm this afternoon.

This time was approximately six minutes inside RPAYC Commodore Angus Gordon's Navigator's ETA radioed from Bangally Head (he'll be a little disappointed with that), although when I posed that question to him this morning at 8:55am, he did say to me whilst 'champagne sailing' past Broken Bay on their way South to Botany Bay that 'we’ll see you about 4:30pm' so I give him the award from the furtherest distance out.

In third in IRC at this stage is Grant Halliday's Sydney 38 OD The Business, who shot the line early at the start and was officially recalled, so not a great start for Grant but a great finish. The Business becomes the first Sydney 38 to finish the alternate race.

In PHS, provisionally another Sydney 38, this time Anthony Pickering's Love Byte from Sea Hawk , Pete Van Ryan’s Farr 44 and in third place is Jeff Carter's Farr 40 OD out of the RPAYC Revolution Edake with the beautiful bright green Sayer 12, Wasabi fourth. At the time of writing these are the only finishers in PHS.

Jeff Carter of Revolution Edake, third over the line and first Farr 40 and PHS boat home commented earlier, 'we had a good time out there and wasn't too bumpy. Our best conditions were when we went round the Port Stephens mark late last night in 16 knots of breeze. It was great fun and it was good racing.'
It looks like it's going to be a busy night back at the RPAYC tonight with reports of another 16 boats about to cross the finish line with the sked going on in the background.

One retiree from the race so far with Dennis Cooper Sydney 36 CR Amante, Dennis advised that she retired 'due to crew commitments with a couple of the crew from Coffs harbour had commitments, ironically back at the historic of the receiving port tomorrow.

There was no gear damage and as reported earlier opted for an early route back to their home club at the CYCA, as she pulled out of the race mid afternoon. She certainly won't have any delivery issues as she's now safely back at dock.