High Winds Havoc in BMW Winter series racing

by Peter Campbell on 20 Jun 2002 Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Vice Commodore Martin James' ocean racer, Infinity III, and Geoff Lee's harbour flyer, Taurus VIII, are equal points with just three races to sail in the CYCA's BMW Sydney Winter Series on the Harbour.

Infinity III, a Farr 65, and Taurus VIII, a Sayer 42, placed third and fourth in Division A, just 48 seconds apart, as the fleet fought to survive last Sunday's south-westerly gale.

While some of the leading boats on the division pointscores were forced to retire, no more than three points still separate the leading two boats in five of the eight handicap divisions.

Gusty winds of 30 to 40 knots hit the 165 boat fleet with ferocity midway through the race, forcing more than 40 yachts to retire with damage.

While the galeforce winds created most havoc, the fleet had been reduced by two in the first half hour when the breeze was no more than 10 knots, with the Farr 37, Pippin, and the Bonbridge 27, Hornblower, locking rigs near the Garden Island marks.

The end result of a sharp tug-of-war was both boats being dismasted, Pippin's owner/skipper David Taylor suffering three broken ribs when he was crushed by the falling rig. Fortunately, he is recovering well at home. (Peter Campbell was not aboard his boat Hornblower Ed.)

The later incidents were even more dramatic as the wind howled in, sending many boats into wild broaches; Blue Max went aground on Potts Points, Red Rock Communications lost her rig, and Akela began to sink when water poured in through a forward inspection hatch.

With three races to sail in the BMW Sydney Winter Series, only a handful of points separate the leading boats in most divisions after taking into account three discard races.

Infinity III and Taurus VIII are both on 366 points, with John Woodruff's The Dreamtime and CYCS Rear Commodore Geoff Lavis' UBS Wild Thing both on 361 points.

In Division B, Phillip and Nada Dickinson's Champagne on Ice still holds a commanding 15 point lead from the Pacific Sailing School's Cadenza, despite placing only 13th.

However, in Division C only one point separates the syndicate-owned Enticer and Peter Whitford's Beneteau 36.7, Peugeot Racing, helmed by Olympian Neville Wittey. Just one point back is The Amateurs, helmed by Jonathon Gibson.

The former Admiral's Cup yacht of the 1960s, Caprice of Huon, now owned by David Champtaloup, has sailed to the top of the leader board in Division E with a third place last Sunday, but is only two points ahead of race winner, Reve, skippered by Kevin Whelan.

In Division D, David Mason's Deception has not finished worse than fourth in her last five races and now has a four points lead from the Tribal Syndicate's Spearhead, with only two points back to Cougar (John McCarthy) which won its second successive race last Sunday.

Only two points separate Laissez Faire (J.Hilll/G.Connery) and Magic (David White) in Division F, while in Division G, the classic Syonara (G.Maughan) revelled in the heavy winds to win Sunday's race and take the pointscore lead, three points in front of Peter Howes' Sea Rug Hoo Ha.

In Division J, the non-spinnaker division, Privateer (William Morrow) has a comfortable six point margin from the Livermore Syndicate's Tickalara which is just one point ahead of the former World One Ton Cup champion, Stormy Petrel, which scored her second successive win last Sunday for owner Kevin O'Shea.