Raging Bull handicap win SECUMAR Botany Bay Race

by Peter McCorquodale on 23 Apr 2008 The Shorthanded Sailing Association (SSAA) Winter Series kicked off on Saturday with a challenging day for the SECUMAR Botany Bay Race.

With a start off Balmoral and course around the first port channel mark in Botany Bay and then back to a finish at the Junction Bell mark in Sydney Harbour, first home was 2007 SSAA Champion multihull, Stephen Barton’s 'Big Bird'.

The first monohull home was the X482 'Gaia' of Colin & Gai O’Brien with Clint Seares as crew.

Sailed in 20 to 25 knots out of the South East in a bumpy seaway the leg South was a little wet, but then the ride home was a lot of fun, particularly for the two yachts 'Raging Bull' and 'Lik Lik' who flew spinnakers, and of course for 'Big Bird'.

Those that stayed in close to shore on the leg South fared best, and owner Mark Griffith with crew Erin Bannon didn’t miss a beat all day to win for the 2nd year in a row on his modified Bull 9000 'Raging Bull'. Second on handicap was Lee Condell’s Mount Gay 30 'Lik Lik' with Marc Hayes as crew, and third was the Adams 12 sailed by Susan Rice and Nic Ewald.

All 10 yachts that competed had a great day and look forward to more competitors joining them for the next event, the All Marine Pittwater to Newcastle race on Saturday the 17th of May.

Full details on the SSAA website: www.ssaa.com.au