Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week Day 3 - Tighter at the Top

by Rob Kothe on 16 Aug 2009 Another summer day in the Australian tropical north for the 20th annual Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week.

Light winds again on the Whitsunday coast and two windward leeward races for the Grand Prix IRC fleet.

In this morning's three lap race, Living Doll Michael Hiatt’s Farr 55, took line honours and a handicap win from Ray Roberts' Cookson 50 Evolution Racing. Russell McCart’s Farr 40 Night Nurse was third on handicap.

Series leader Rob Date’s Reichel Pugh Scarlet Runner struggled for pace this morning, finishing behind Evolution Racing and was sixth on handicap.

On the second IRC windward leeward, Living Doll looked to be only just ahead on handicap time as she came down the first run, with Scarlet Runner advancing on the right and Evolution Racing bring breeze up to the Doll. After a big wind shift, suddenly Evolution was second with Scarlet Runner struggling in third.

As the breeze lightened the last leg was shortened to half the distance, only 0.7 nautical miles. Sensation as Living Doll on the left kept heading to the original top mark, 1.4 miles upwind. It was not until Evolution rounded the new top mark that the after guard on Living Doll sudden realised what had happened and the bow came away. Having overstood the mark so hugely, they charged down (as much as you can charge in five knots of breeze), rounded the mark in a 270 turn and headed for home crossing the line in third place behind Evolution Racing and Scarlet Runner.

But the damage was done. As Michael Hiatt said dockside ‘We’ve had better racing days, but it was just great to be out on the water.’

A similar comment from Scarlet Runner skipper Rob Date ' We were struggling for pace today and we just seemed to be on the wrong aside of the shifts. But it was still so much better than sailing in Melbourne in mid winter.'

However Living Doll still leads the series after four races, with 1,2,1,5, from Scarlet Runner 2,1,6,2, on a total of 11 points. Ray Robert’s Evolution Racing 3,6,2,1 now with 12, is within striking distance.

If the last three days racing bring winds then expect to see the Cookson 50 up and flying. Dockside Steve McConaghy who helmed Evolution Racing today in the absence of Ray Robert's was smiling 'A much better result than we expected in the soft conditions. Now if we can get some wind, we will be really happy.'

Five classes today sailed the 24 mile Gumbrell Island course north from Pioneer Bay.

In IRC Cruising another great result for Barry Kelly’s Typhoon; she now has a second and two wins and leads John Moore’s Beneteau 44.7 On Y Va, from Geoff Pearson and his Beneteau First 45 Carbon Credits.

This afternoon Kelly commented ‘It’s always better to be lucky than good. We had a shocker of a start but brought the pressure up to the fleet. We managed to get around the Island without stopping and were lifted most of the way home.

‘We always knew the boat would go well in the light conditions. How she will go in heavier stuff remains to be seen.’

In the Performance Racing fleet Sydney sailor Kim Williams lightweight Melges 32 Rock n’ Roll looked pressured up in six knots, she scooted around the course in 4 hours and 20 minutes, hugging the mainland shore to stay out of the tide. The boat report was - 'Shifty to start, slowly filled in from south east, dodged a few whales. Combination of staying out of the tide and working the lanes of pressure.'

Second across the line was Local Hero, Peter Mosley’s Sydney 36 almost half an hour later. However on corrected time Rock n’ Roll won on handicap by only 89 seconds from Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Peter Mitchelson's Clubman 8, with another Whitsunday local Damien Suckling steering his Atkinson 24 Fallen Angels into third place.

After four races its still a close run affair with Rock ‘n Roll just a point ahead of George Challoner’s Elan 37 Airlie Retreat with Charlie Wallis’ Reignition third.

In the Offshore Sports Boat fleet Pierre Gal steered his Sports 8 xx Conquistador to a line honours win, ahead of Bruce Tardrew’s Stealth 8 No Limits and Bob Cowan’s Stealth 8 Stealthy. Gal commented' We put up a small shy kite - we stayed high in the current, went far right then gybed into the island and upwind we stayed on the shore - It was very warm today, even better than Coffs Harbour‘ - a big call from the Northern NSW sailor.

Cam Rae and his Thompson 8 Laminar Capital crew made some astute tactical judgements to take the race on handicap; they’ve won the last three in a row and now equal Townsville sailor Leon Thomas and his T7 Guilty Pleasures both on seven points after five races.

The Inshore Sports division, sailed a new passage course today out of Pioneer Bay, out into the Molle Channel and around West Molle Island, better known as Daydream Island and back. On handicap, Shane Smith on his modified Blazer 23 Musto, continued his winning streak and clearly leads the fleet with bullets in all races. Airlie Sails, Jamie Jochheim’s (WSC) held form adding another second place to his score (five straight second places to date). Michael McLean’s Wagop retains third place on handicap.

Progressive Series Results

IRC Racing
Series Results [IRC] for Division 1 up to Race 4 (Drops = 0)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		R55	LIVING DOLL	Michael Hiatt	RYCV	Farr 55	9	5	1	2	1
2		SM11	SCARLET RUNNER	Robert Date	SYC	RP52	11	2	6	1	2
3		8899	EVOLUTION RACING	Ray Roberts	CYCA	Cookson 50	12	1	2	6	3
4		9009	NIGHT NURSE	Russell McCart	RQYS	Farr 40	16	3	3	5	5
5		6530	CRACKLIN ROSIE	Robbo Robertson	RQYS	FARR 40	19	4	7	4	4
6		6838	E11EVEN	Ian Thomson	RQYS	Farr 40 IRC	23	6	8	3	6
7		M4	CADIBARRA 8	John Netherton	MOOLOOLABA	Jones 42	26	8	4	7	7
8		YC400	FORD PREFECT	Brett Young	CYCSA	Beneteau first 40	34	7	5	11.0C	11.0C
9		88888	SAMURAI JACK	Noel Humphreys	MBYC	Farr39ML mod	36	9	11.0F	8	8
10		R50	SHOGUN	Robert Hanna	RGYC	Cookson 50 fixed kee	44	11.0C	11.0C	11.0C	11.0C
IRC Cruising
Series Results [IRC] for Division 1 up to Race 3 (Drops = 0)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		8395	TYPHOON	Barry Kelly	NCYC	Farr 395	4	1	1	2
2		FRA9500	ON Y VA	John Moore	RQYS	Beneteau 44.7	8	4	3	1
3		6669	CARBON CREDITS	Geoff Pearson	MHYC	Beneteau First 45	9	2	2	5
4	4.0S	2960	DANCING LADY	Robert Pennell	RQYS	Farr 11.6	16	3	4	9
5		771	DOUBLE O SEVEN	Jeffrey Brown	WSC	Northshore 38 mod	16	8	5	3
6		RQ64	OCEAN AFFINITY	Stewart Lewis	RQYS	Marten 49	19	7	6	6
7		BOW3	BOUDICEA	Mike Steel	TCYC	Dufour 34 Regatta	20	6	7	7
8		SP3	SUREFOOT	Rod Sawyer	WSC	Norlin	21	9	8	4
9		N6	TEAM SMART	Tony Ross	SYC	Archambault 40	22	5	9	8
10		7407	CHANCELLOR	Morgan Rogers	CYCA	Beneteau 40.7	33	11.0C	11.0C	11.0C
Performance Racing
Series Results [EHC] for Division 1 up to Race 3 (Drops = 0)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		AUS3232	ROCK N ROLL	Kim Williams	RANSA	Melges 32	12	1	2	9
2		6754	AIRLIE RETREAT	George Challoner	RMYC	ELAN 37	13	5	5	3
3		202	REIGNITION	Charles Wallis	WSC	MBD42	17	6	1	10
4	1.0S	4260	RISING FARRST	Tim Osborne	WSC	Farr 1104	20	7	12	1
5	4.0S	1236	LOCAL HERO	Peter Mosely	MHYC	BH36	20	4	3	13
6		W13	FALLEN ANGELS	Damien Suckling	WSC	Atkinson 24	20	3	6	11
7	2.0S	8041	LORNA ROSE TOO	Peter Mitchelson	WSC	Austral Clubman 8	21	2	11	8
8		999	TRUE LOVE	Roger Down	WSC	Farr 116	21	10.0P	4	7
9		640	WOBBLY BOOT	Craig Piccinelli	WSC	ModYoung88	23	12	9	2
10		588	IDLE TIME	Kevin Fogarty	WSC	Spacesailer	25	14	7	4
11		9111	ROPABULL	Mike Roper	RMYC/BB	Beneteau 42	26	8	13	5
12		5013	AIR APPARENT	Steve Wright	NQCYC	Young 31	27	13	8	6
13	9.0S	4054	PACIFIC PHOENIX	Alan Sneddon	WSC	BENETEAU 405	35	9	14	12
14		6146	KIONI	Nick Athineos	CYCA	Beneteau First 47.7	35	11	10	14
Sports Boats
Series Results [SMS] for Division 1 up to Race 5 (Drops = 1)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 5	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1	1.0S	G108	LAMINAR CAPITAL	Cam Rae	RGYC	Thompson 8	7	1	1	1	4	[9.0]
2		5887	GUILTY PLEASURES	Leon Thomas	TCYC	Thompson 7	7	[7.0]	2	2	1	2
3		AUS558	WHAT THA	Heath Townsend	GBYC	Melges 24	15	5	5	3	2	[7.5]
4		Q38	NO LIMITS	Bruce Tardrew	RQYS	Stealth 8	18	2	3	10	3	[11.0]
5		7008	ZUTE	Stephen Hunter	SYC	Thompson 7	21.5	[13.0]	4	7	7.5	3
6		RQ777	RAPTOR	Mark Buchbach	RQYS	Stealth 7	22.5	4	7	4	[12.0]	7.5
7		105	CONQUISTADOR	Pierre Gal	CHYC	sports 8 xx	24	6	8	5	5	[13.0]
8		RQ202	STEALTHY	Bob Cowan	LMYC	Stealth	26	8	[9.0]	6	6	6
9		7018	COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTI	Chris Byrne	SYC/CCSC	Thompson 7	30.5	11	[11.0]	8	7.5	4
10		E46	OMEN	Andrew Holden	RQYS	Elliott 7	33	12	[14.0]	9	11	1
11		DS808	M.J.R OUTRAGE	Tony EcCles	RMYC	Duncanson Phuket 8	36	10	[13.0]	12	9	5
12		734	X2 TANGENT	Simon Vincent	NQCYC	Elliot 780 espx	38	3	12	13	[14.0]	10
13		7	GUIDED MISSILE	John Rae	MYC	STEALTH 8	42	9	6	14	13	[14.0]
14		SA780	PRIMAL SCREAM	Tom Jordan	MYC	Elliott 780	43	[14.0]	10	11	10	12
Sports Boats - Inshore
Series Results [SMS] for Division 1 up to Race 5 (Drops = 1)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 5	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		55	MUSTO	Shane Smith	SYC	Blazer 23	4	1	1	1	1	[1.0]
2		3384	AIRLE SAILS	Jamie Jochheim	WSC	sb3	8	2	2	2	2	[2.0]
3		3357	WAGOP	Michael McLean	SYC	sb3	13	3	4	3	[5.0]	3
4		AUS3381	BEER LAO	Paul Hunt	NQCYC	SB3	15	4	3	[5.0]	4	4
5		3353	MARINETECH ELECTRICS	Lachlan McLean	RQYS	Dart SB3	18	5	5	[6.0]	3	5
6		3352	DARTVADER	Mark Prince	NYC	sb3	22	6	6	4	6	[6.0]
7		6798	SCRATCH	Dave Griffin	RMYC	boatspeed 23	28	7	7	7	7	[7.0]
Cruising
Series Results [EHC Div1] for Division 1 up to Race 3 (Drops = 0)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1	1.0S	80808	PANACEA 10% HARD COR	Ken Christensen	RBYC	Beneteau 40.7	8	3	4	1
2		HKG1222	CHINA BLUES	Bill McCarthy	MYC	X-442	8	4	2	2
3		5796	QLD MARINE SERVICES	John Galloway	WSC	Holland	13	6	1	6
4		6556	MAGIQUE	Chris Carlile	CYCA	Beneteau	14	7	3	4
5		H370	HANS-ON	Nick / Col Cox /	MYC	Hanse 370e	15	1	9	5
6	2.0S	5178	TEAM ENSIGN	Alexis Bisbas	SYC	Dubois 40'	19	2	8	9
7		W8	SANDPIPER WUTBA	Colin Pruden	WSC	Swarbrick S111	19	9	7	3
8		M333	WHISPER FOUR	John Hall	SYC	DUFOUR 44	20	5	5	10
9		6215	KAT	Chris Stockdale	CYCA	Beneteau 50	27	13	6	8
10		SA10	STORM 2	Don Algie	WSC	WARWICK 66	29	12	10	7
11		6797	HOLY COW!	John & Kim Clinton	CYCA	Beneteau Oceanis 50	30	8	11	11
12		6678	SUPERTRAMP	Sue And Alan Pick	RPAYC	Beneteau Oceanis 46	34	10	12	12
13		BOW4	SILVERSHOT	David Perkins	MYC	Beneteau 50	37	11	13	13
Cruising
Series Results [EHC Div2] for Division 2 up to Race 3 (Drops = 0)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1	1.0S	M406	SEDUCTION	Richard Nichols	MYC	Lidgard 34	13	5	1	7
2		W677	SUNRISE	Helen & Jeff Shipsey	APYC/WSC	Elan 37	13	4	4	5
3		5899	BOBBY D	Ross Winterbourne	NQCYC	Farr	14	8	2	4
4	2.0S	5877	HYDRO THERAPY	Mike Trickey	WSC	Beneteau First 33.7	15	7	6	2
5		W42	AFRICA	Terry Archer	WSC	Bavaria 42 Cruiser	15	9	3	3
6		4262	SUNFLOWER	Graeme Douglas	WSC	Peterson Santana 30	18	3	7	8
7		B408	RAMPALLION	Roger Incledon	RBYC	S99	20	6	5	9
8		606	MORE INTRIGUE	Merv Stephensen	RQYS	Northshore 38 C	21	11	9	1
9		B36	AMADEUS	Peter Johnson	WSC	bavaria 36	23	2	11	10
10		730	TIDE UP	Barry Smith	NQCYC	NOELEX Trailer Sailo	25	1	12	12
11		3610	TURTLE TIME	Jason Randall	WSC	Swarbrick Spacesailo	26	12	8	6
12		B88	INGENUE	Rosie Colahan	RBYC	Jeanneau SO 40	31	10	10	11
Cruising - No Spinnaker
Series Results [EHC] for Division 1 up to Race 3 (Drops = 0)
Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	From	Design	Sers Score	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		W440	RIFF RAFF	Dan White	WSC	Beneteau Oceanis 440	14	6	7	1
2	3.0S	G8710	AKATEA	John Garner	RGYC	Cookson 40	15	10	3	2
3		SM4400	MANLY TOO	Peter McAdam	SYC	BAVARIA 44	15	8	2	5
4		271	SERENDIPITY	Roger Boast	WSC	Bavaria 36	17	1	8	8
5		SYD8	TULIP	Bernie Vanthof	CYCA	Swan 45	19	12	1	6
6	3.0S	4787	AVALON	Norm House	WSC	Richards 37	20	3	14.0F	3
7	5.0S	B4407	SEADUCTION	Brian Pattinson	RBYC	beneteau 44.7	20	11	5	4
8		6702	JOIE DE VIE	Wayne Banks Smith	RPAYC	Jeanneau Sun Odysse	20	9	4	7
9	2.0S	BOW2	BLISS	Pete Sheehy	WSC	Jutson	23	2	9	12
10		ST461	VALDOLESE	Greg Sier	SYC	Beneteau 461	23	7	6	10
11		12	AZURE	Peter Hall	PYC	JEANNEAU 39I	28	5	14.0F	9
12		BOW1	BENETTA	Murray Sheer	CCY	Beneteau cyclades 43	29	4	14.0F	11
13		SM477	ESPRIT	Garry Anderson	SYC	beneteau 47.7	42	14.0C	14.0C	14.0C

Full results at www.airliebeachraceweek.com.au