Images from Day 3 of Hartley TS 16 Australian Championships

by Crosbie Lorimer on 1 Jan 2010 Yesterday’s racing for the 23 boat fleet contesting the Hartley TS 16 Australian Championships was held in light and patchy nor-easters on the Parramatta River; certainly not the ideal conditions in which to combat the constant half metre wave sets from the flotilla of powerboats rushing down to the harbour for a spot from which to watch the fireworks.

When combined with a strong outgoing tide the conditions were testing for the fleet and as a consequence the lead changed several times during the race.

Four times Australian Hartley Champion Michael Horvath on True Blue got away to a good start but Justine Tornai aboard Charlie Brown soon got fresh breeze on the Cockatoo Island shore and led to the top mark close to the Waverton headland.

A number of the fleet were caught out by the ebb tide and overlaid the mark; however Eric Partland on Uncle Roy judged it to perfection and got an outside berth to round parallel to Charlie Brown with True Blue third.

South Australian Alan Hall on Kurdi-Magic, Neil Johnson on Tranquil and Dick Voorderhake on Rapscallion, spotted the frontrunners including True Blue parking up mid-channel in no breeze and unfavourable tide; the former boats opted to sail deep, holding breeze to take over the lead on a slow downwind leg to the bottom mark off Spectacle Island.

The vast numbers of campers on Cockatoo Island and Clarke Point had ringside seats for the Hartley’s warm-up act for the fireworks as the boats sailed slowly up river; even the Rivercat came to a halt as it met the drifting fleet.

Kurdi-Magic led by a boat length at the bottom mark from Tranquil and Rapscallion third and Charlie Brown fourth. Series leader Ken Marslew on Ambulance (an unusual but apt name for a boat whose skipper has survived several heart attacks and appears in fine form) was at the head of the following pack.

The lead was hotly contested on the second upwind leg with Rapscallion picking the shifts well and gradually overhauling Kurdi-Magic.

With the wind becoming even patchier the race committee decided to shorten course at the top mark with the next leg being the final run to the finish line.

Rapscallion made significant inroads on Tranquil’s upwind lead and turned the mark with an inside berth, holding more pressure to take a small lead as they headed for the finish.

For a while it looked as if Kurdi-Magic might overhaul both Tranquil and Rapscallion, holding better pressure on the Balmain shore as Rapscallion and Tranquil ran out of breeze east of Cockatoo Island.

Rapscallion opted to cover both boats and gybed towards the Balmain shore, managing to hold out Kurdi-Magic and Tranquil for a close and nerve racking win for Dick Voorderhake and his crew Richard Blake.

A magnanimous and relieved Dick Voorderhake was well pleased with his win but grateful for a few breaks that went his way.

'In those sorts of conditions you just have to sail to where the breeze is, even when it seems to add distance' said Dick after the race 'we seemed to get on the right side of all the shifts today and we’ve worked hard on the boat to improve our downwind speed, but it’s one of those days where there’s a lot of luck in the results'.

A philosophical Neil Johnson admitted that for once Rapscallion had got the better of Tranquil on the downwind leg. 'When we got round the top mark and Dick pulled out a small lead I said to my crew 'don’t worry, we always run him down in the downwind leg'; but it wasn’t to be today'.

Ken Marslew’s Ambulance leads the regatta with a fifth place to add to his consistent top placings, while Michael Horvath’s True Blue had a tough day; he and his crew have it all to do in the next three days to make it five Australian Championships in a row.

Racing continues from the Drummoyne Sailing Club until 3rd January.

Crosbie Lorimer was out on the river for Day 3 and captured the action on grey and drizzly afternoon.

If you wish to purchase copies of any of the above images contact Crosbie Lorimer or Dale Lorimer on crosndale@optsusnet.com.au